Modulatory effect of metformin on cardiotoxicity induced by doxorubicin via the MAPK and AMPK pathways

Aims Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective anthracycline anticancer drug. However, the clinical usage of it is limited due to its severe cardiotoxicity side effects. Metformin (Met) is a kind of first-line antihyperglycemic drug which has a potential protective effect on the heart，it is often used for oral treatment of type 2 diabetes. In this study, we explored whether Met could attenuate cardiotoxicity induced by DOX. Materials and methods For the sake of exploring the Met protective effect and mechanism, we established the DOX-induced cardiotoxicity models both in H9C2 cells incubated with 5 μM DOX in vitro and Sprague–Dawley rats treated with 20 mg/kg cumulative dose of DOX. Key findings Met is able to inhibit growth inhibition and apoptosis of H9C2 cells induced by DOX. The heart indexes of rats were examined to evaluate the Met cardiotoxicity protection. Met improved the abnormal indexes, serum markers of cardiac heart injury, echocardiography, electrocardiogram, cardiac pathology, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and oxidative stress markers induced by DOX. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that Met protected against DOX-induced increasing cleaved caspase-3 and Bax. Met also prevented the downregulation of Bcl-2, activated the AMPK pathway, and inhibited the MAPK pathway. Significance Met showed protective effects on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis, as well as regulating AMPK and MAPK signaling pathways.