Dose-Dependent Effect of Metformin Preconditioning on the Regenerative Potential of Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: An In Vitro Experimental Study
Abstract
Abstract Background Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) show promise in regenerative medicine, but variable functional quality. This study evaluates the effects of metformin preconditioning across a wide concentration range on UC-MSC regenerative potential. Methods UC-MSCs (n = 10 donors) were isolated, characterized, and exposed to 0–1000 µM metformin. Viability, colony-forming efficiency, proliferation kinetics (passages 3–6), and osteogenic/neurogenic differentiation were evaluated. Results Metformin modulated UC-MSC function in a dose-dependent manner. The 100 µM dose significantly maximized cell viability (106.30%) and clonogenicity, while maintaining higher population doubling and shortening doubling time at passage 6 versus controls. Furthermore, 100 µM metformin significantly upregulated osteogenic (OCN) and neurogenic (NSE) gene expression. Conversely, higher concentrations (1000 µM) inhibited proliferation and differentiation. Conclusions Low-dose (100 µM) metformin preconditioning enhances UC-MSC metabolic activity, proliferation, and differentiation potential. This optimization offers a pharmacological strategy to improve UC-MSC quality for therapeutic applications.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a preprint, done in cell cultures (in vitro), not in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health. Reported size: 10 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Metformin as an adjuvant in breast cancer treatment
- Metformin Lysosomal Targeting: A Novel Aspect to Be Investigated for Metformin Repurposing in Neurodegenerative Diseases?
- Aberrant HSF1 signaling activation underlies metformin amelioration of myocardial infarction in mice
- Metformin induces ZFP36 by mTORC1 inhibition in cervical cancer-derived cell lines
- Protein Interaction Network for Identifying Vascular Response of Metformin (Oral Antidiabetic)
- Preventing Long COVID With Metformin
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.