New Perspectives on the Molecular Action of Metformin in the Context of Cellular Transduction and Adipogenesis.

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Metformin, a widely used antidiabetic drug, modulates the cellular physiology and metabolism of various body tissues, including adipose tissue. Adipogenesis, a complex process in which mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) differentiate into functional adipocytes, plays a key role in metabolic health and represents a potential therapeutic target for diverse metabolic disorders. Notably, recent evidence suggests that metformin modulates adipocyte differentiation. This narrative review explores the effects of metformin on cellular metabolism, with a particular focus on adipogenesis. The findings compiled in this review show that metformin regulates glucose and lipid metabolism in multiple tissues, including skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, liver, and intestine. Furthermore, metformin modulates adipogenesis through AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-dependent and independent mechanisms in 3T3-L1 cells and adipose-derived stem cells. The review also emphasizes that metformin can promote or inhibit adipogenesis and lipid accumulation, depending on its concentration. Additionally, metformin attenuates inflammatory pathways by reducing the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, MCP-1, and COX-2. Finally, evidence supports that vitamin D enhances the anti-inflammatory actions of metformin and promotes cell differentiation toward a beige adipocyte phenotype. In summary, this revi

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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