Metformin as a potential therapeutic for neurological disease: mobilizing AMPK to repair the nervous system.

Introduction: Metformin is currently first line therapy for type 2 diabetes (T2D). The mechanism of action of metformin involves activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to enhance mitochondrial function (for example, biogenesis, refurbishment and dynamics) and autophagy. Many neurodegenerative diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems arise from metabolic failure and toxic protein aggregation where activated AMPK could prove protective. Areas covered: The authors review literature on metformin treatment in Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and other neurological diseases of the CNS along with neuroprotective effects of AMPK activation and suppression of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway on peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain. The authors compare the efficacy of metformin with the actions of resveratrol. Expert opinion: Metformin, through activation of AMPK and autophagy, can enhance neuronal bioenergetics, promote nerve repair and reduce toxic protein aggregates in neurological diseases. A long history of safe use in humans should encourage development of metformin and other AMPK activators in preclinical and clinical research. Future studies in animal models of neurological disease should strive to further dissect in a mechanistic manner the pathways downstream from metformin-dependent AMPK activation, and to further investigate mTOR dependent and independent signaling pathways driving neuroprotection.

Metformin and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Metformin has become one of the most frequently prescribed drugs worldwide [1] due to the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D), an expanding scope of use and favorable safety profile. Although medical management of T2D has progressed rapidly in recent years, metformin remains a cornerstone of anti-hyperglycemic regimens. First marketed for T2D in 1957, metformin has commanded significant market share in the ensuing decades and is a mainstay of treatment, with current prescription rates of 77% in T2D patients [2]. With the prevalence of diabetes quadrupling over the past 3 decades, use of metformin has experienced similar growth [3].

Depending on presenting glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting plasma glucose levels, metformin may or may not be prescribed at the time of diagnosis of T2D. Lifestyle modifications, generally consisting of improved low-calorie diet and regular physical activity, are also routinely recommended by Diabetes Canada [4] and have been adopted by major diabetes associations worldwide [5,6]. Metformin is inexpensive and usually well tolerated with few contraindications, negligible weight gain, and rarely induces hypoglycemia. The side effect profile is generally favorable, with short lived diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain upon initiation of metformin treatment often mitigated by slowing dose titration. Chronic use has been associated with vitamin B12 deficiency [7]. One serious but rare side effect of metformin use is precipitation of a metabolic lactic acidosis, a high mortality acid-base disturbance related to lactic acid overproduction and reduced excretion [8]. Risk factors for lactic acidosis are advanced age, renal failure, and liver failure. Renal failure is of particular concern as metformin is cleared via the kidneys [9]. Poor renal function is therefore a potential contraindication to metformin use and must be monitored at regular intervals to evaluate for development and progression of diabetic nephropathy. Determination of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) has become the standard of practice for approximating renal function in patients on metformin [10,11]. Prescriber caution is advised at an eGFR between 30–59 mL/min/1.73 m2 (CKD Stage 3); an eGFR below 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (CKD Stage 4–5) is an absolute contraindication to metformin use due to increased likelihood of inducing lactic acidosis.

Metformin has not been approved for prevention of T2D by the FDA. However, several randomized control trials (RCTs) have investigated its efficacy in preventing both the development of T2D in high risk groups and the development of micro- and macrovascular complications of T2D [12]. In the Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group RCT, a standard dose of metformin (850 mg BID) was paired with basic lifestyle modifications in those at high risk for developing T2D [13]. After 3 years, the metformin treatment arm had a 31% lower incidence of T2D than the placebo group but was not as effective as the intensive lifestyle modification treatment arm which saw a 58% lower incidence than placebo. The efficacy of metformin was greatest in those with higher BMI and fasting plasma glucose values. Reductions in mortality and vascular complications of T2D have also been observed with metformin use [14]. Compared to lifestyle modifications and insulin and sulfonylurea therapy, metformin achieved a 32% risk reduction in all diabetes-related micro- and macrovascular complications. Similarly, a significant reduction in all-cause mortality was observed in the metformin treatment group compared to the insulin and sulfonylurea cohort. Long-term continuation of benefit was observed after 10 years of treatment [15].

Use of metformin in special populations varies by jurisdiction [16]. In one study, metformin was shown to be an effective means of glycemic control in pediatric patients aged 8–16 with reductions in HbA1c of 1.4% [17]. Fasting plasma glucose values also saw significant reduction over placebo. Adverse events were similar to those experienced in adult populations. In older adults, aggressive glycemic control increased mortality with little effect on cardiovascular events [18]. While no RCT has determined the efficacy of metformin in older adults, it is routinely used in clinical practice for glycemic control and cancer risk reduction [19].

Mechanism of action of metformin

The glucose-lowering effect of metformin is believed to be due to its ability to inhibit hepatic gluconeogenesis while also improving glucose uptake in peripheral tissues [20-23]. Metformin reduces glycated hemoglobin and fasting plasma glucose while inducing mild weight loss [22]. The specific biochemical mechanism of action of metformin has eluded researchers for decades as there continues to be disagreement and an absence of definitive proof. As evidenced by its large volume of distribution, metformin penetrates multiple tissue types throughout the body [24]. Particular significance is attributed to the action of metformin in hepatocytes, adipocytes, enterocytes, and neurons. Regardless of cell type, metformin activates the heterotrimer AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key regulator of cellular metabolism activated by rising intracellular AMP:ATP ratios [25]. This energy sensing enzyme controls activation of a number of pathways designed to enhance mitochondrial function, including the transcriptional coactivator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-λ coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α) and fatty acid oxidation (β-oxidation). AMPK is considered a master regulator of cellular bioenergetics and the numerous signaling cascades that control mitochondrial biogenesis, refurbishment and function have been reviewed in detail elsewhere [25-28]. Inhibition of Complex I of the respiratory chain is also believed to be a key step in metformin action [29] and putative effects on mitochondrial function stemming from this are currently under investigation [30]. See Box 1 and Figure 1 for an overview of the AMPK pathway and impact of metformin.

Figure 1.

Metformin-dependent activation of AMPK and downstream targets.

Metformin interacts with components of the mitochondria, including the respiratory chain at Complex 1, to inhibit electron flow and oxidative phosphorylation. The increase in ratio of AMP:ATP activates AMPK and leads to elevated phosphorylation of the co-transcriptional activator, PGC-1α. SIRT1, a sensor of the NAD+/NADH redox state, further enhances PGC-1α activity via deacetylation. Activated PGC-1α then can interact with a variety of transcription factors (shown in the white box) to modulate a variety of signal transduction pathways associated with mitochondrial function and cellular metabolism. Abbreviations: Ac, acetylation; AMPK, AMP-activated protein kinase; FOXO1, forkhead box O 1; ERRα, estrogen receptor-relatedα; HNF4α, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α PGC-1α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor λ coactivator 1-α; PPAR α/δ, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α/δ; NRF1, nuclear respiratory factor 1; NRF2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor; SIRT1, sirtuin1 or silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog; SREBP1, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1; TFAM, mitochondrial transcription factor A.

Metformin signaling in hepatocytes

AMPK phosphorylation and activation by metformin was first demonstrated in rat hepatocytes [33]. Metformin induces the phosphorylation and activation of AMPK at T172 in both isoforms of the catalytic α-subunit. Inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and increased fatty acid oxidation were identified as downstream effects. Liver kinase B1 (LKB1), the upstream kinase of AMPK, was implicated as LKB1 knockout mice were resistant to AMPK activation and did not exhibit reduced serum glucose levels following metformin treatment [34]. However, the LKB1-AMPK pathway may not be absolutely required to lower hepatic glucose production [35]. Using mice with defective α1/2 AMPK subunits, metformin decreased intracellular ATP concentration in primary hepatocytes as well as causing an associated drop in hepatic glucose production. Increased levels of AMP, an allosteric activator of AMPK, were also detected.

Other effects of metformin on mitochondrial respiratory function have also been observed. Mitochondrial respiratory chain complex 1 (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) was inhibited in primary rat hepatocytes by metformin treatment [36]. Metformin also prevented glutamate and malate oxidation in a dose and time dependent manner, further suggesting inhibition of complex 1. This effect required intact cells and did not occur in isolated mitochondria, suggesting that metformin did not directly inhibit complex 1 but operated indirectly [37]. More recent research has shown that isolated mitochondrial complexes can be weakly and reversibly inhibited by metformin, most likely by acting on conserved core regions of the enzyme [38]. Complex 3 of the respiratory chain and ATP synthase were also inhibited by metformin. The redox state of mitochondria, as determined by NADH:NAD+ ratios in hepatocytes, responded to metformin treatment in a manner similar to that of rotenone, a known inhibitor of complex 1 [39].

Metformin signaling in other non-neuronal cell types

In enterocytes, metformin increased glucose uptake and utilization, potentially through the activation of AMPK [40,41] which then induced translocation of glucose transporters (GLUT2) to the apical membrane [42]. In skeletal muscle, AMPK activation by metformin led to an increase in glucose uptake, a process that was prevented with AMPK siRNA knockdown [33,43]. Both brown and white adipose tissue responded to metformin treatment by activating AMPK in a dose-dependent manner without affecting the total amount of AMPK protein [23]. Inactivation of ACC also occurred in adipose tissue following metformin treatment. AMPK activation was observed in both human and mouse adipose tissue [44]. Decreases in lipogenic gene expression and lipid droplet formation were also observed [45]. Metformin exhibited mitochondrial effects in brown adipose tissue, inducing mitochondrial biogenesis and thermogenesis [46]. Similarly, metformin accumulated in brown adipose tissue and reduced oxygen consumption rate, suggesting that metformin acted negatively on mitochondrial function [47].

Metformin signaling in neurons

Activation of AMPK occurs in a manner similar to that of other cell types [48,49]. Phosphorylation and inactivation of the downstream effector ACC has also been observed in human neural stem cells and rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) after metformin treatment [50,51]. Interestingly, the intracellular action of metformin may differ between different types of neurons as a decrease in AMPK activation has been reported in rat hypothalamic neurons following metformin treatment [52]. Selective inhibition of respiratory chain complex 1 also occurs in cultured embryonic cortical neurons after metformin exposure [53].

Does resveratrol mimic metformin action?

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol found in high concentrations in peanuts, pomegranate and the skin of grapes [54]. Resveratrol has been widely used as a natural medicine and dietary supplement and is attributed with a variety of biochemical and metabolic properties. Resveratrol significantly improved the longevity and morbidity of mice fed a high calorie diet along with improving insulin sensitivity and decreasing hepatic lipid accumulation [55]. Decreased severity of cardiovascular disease [56] and improved sensory neuron function in diabetic mice [57] have also been reported.

Like metformin, the mechanism of resveratrol involves the phosphorylation and activation of AMPK [58]. Downstream activity on metabolic effectors such as ACC also occurs [59]. Interestingly, changes to cellular ATP levels are not always involved in AMPK activation as AMP:ATP ratios remain largely unchanged after resveratrol treatment [58,60]. AMPK activity was dependent on the presence and activity of SIRT1, a prominent deacetylase with genetic, metabolic, and glucose homeostatic functions [61,62]. SIRT1 knockout prevented the resveratrol-induced increase of mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP levels in primary myoblasts. Similarly, SIRT1 inhibition with nicotinamide prevented glucose uptake and AMPK activation after resveratrol treatment.

Rationale for using metformin to treat neurological disorders

There is growing interest in the potential therapeutic use of metformin in diseases of the central nervous system. Most neurodegenerative diseases are heterogeneous in nature and it is becoming recognized that many share pathological mechanisms of neuronal and support cell damage that parallel stress pathways in other diseases, for example in type 1 diabetes (T1D) and T2D [63].

One example of a pathogenic mechanism common to multiple disorders is the mTOR signaling pathway. mTOR signaling contributes to a collective of brain functions including maintenance of neural stem cells and behaviors such as sleeping and eating [64]. Disruption of mTOR signaling, a characteristic of T2D, also occurs in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders such as tuberous sclerosis complex, hamartoma tumor syndrome, neurofibromatosis, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Fragile-X syndrome, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia [63]. Notably, metformin inhibited the mechanistic target of mTOR signaling, rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), via AMPK-dependent as well as AMPK-independent pathways. This supports the idea that metformin has the potential to influence a variety of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases due to common mechanistic defects shared with T2D [64]. See Box 2 and Figure 2 for a summary of the interactions between AMPK and the mTOR pathway and regulation of cell growth and metabolism.

Figure 2.

AMPK regulation of the mTOR pathway and control of cell growth and autophagy.

AMPK and signaling via PI 3-K/Akt, for example by growth factors, act as antagonistic modulators of the mTOR pathway to control cell phenotype. AMPK activates the TSC1/TSC2 complex to drive conversion of Rheb-GTP, an activator of the mTORC1 complex, to Rheb-GDF. This conversion effectively inhibits mTORC1 complex activity (which includes mTOR and associated proteins) and thus suppresses mTOR pathway function. Akt is inhibitory to TSC1/TSC2 thus suppressing formation of Rheb-GDP and enhancing mTORC1 activation. The mTOR pathway when active drives protein synthesis (including ribosome biogenesis), nucleotide and lipid synthesis. mTOR activation is a negative regulator of autophagy and acts antagonistically to AMPK, which also acts as a direct activator of autophagy. The mobilization of these anabolic pathways augmented cell growth and proliferation under conditions of sufficient energy and metabolite supply. AMPK activation, via detection of lowered energy and metabolite supply, suppresses these activities toward a more catabolic phenotype. Abbreviations: 4E-BP1, translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1; Akt, protein kinase B; AT4, activating transcription factor 4; ATG13, autophagy-related protein 13; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin; mTORC1, mTOR complex 1; PI 3-K, phosphoinositide 3-kinase; Rheb, Ras homolog enriched in brain; S6K1, ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1; TSC1 and 2, tuberous sclerosis 1 and 2; ULK1, Unc-51-like autophagy activating kinase 1.

Other disorders common to both T2D and many neurodegenerative processes that may respond to metformin include insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction [69]. Metformin improves glucose metabolism and hence may be able to alleviate insulin resistance. This could be of particular value given that the CNS is subject to an energetically impoverished environment in many neurodegenerative diseases. One factor driving this energy loss in the CNS is mitochondrial dysfunction. The brain has a high energy demand to mass ratio and neurons are exquisitely sensitive to changing energy demands. A common feature of mitochondrial dysfunction in neurological disease is loss of AMPK signaling. Therefore, metformin-dependent activation of the AMPK pathway may provide the rationale for repurposing the drug to treat neurodegenerative diseases [69].

Our main focus is to provide a synthesis of the literature with regards to effects of metformin in the CNS compared to the PNS, highlighting metformin-induced activation of the AMPK signal transduction pathway and its protective properties against neurodegenerative disease. Below we briefly discuss the influence of metformin on a specific set of CNS neurological disorders, since this area has recently been covered extensively elsewhere [63,69-71]. Our focus on AMPK leads to exclusion of Alzheimer’s disease as only a limited number of metformin studies have been performed in AD and the literature is sparse on pathways activated by metformin. We refer the reader to [72] for an overview of metformin and AD.

Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease following Alzheimer’s disease [73]. The main features of PD are accumulation of Lewy Bodies composed primarily of α-synuclein (α-syn), loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and various motor symptoms [74]. Meta-analysis of human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in PD patients identified down-regulated expression of genes downstream of PGC-1α that are associated with mitochondrial electron transport, glucose utilization and glucose sensing [75]. Furthermore, in complementary animal studies, death of DA neurons induced by over-expression of α-syn was prevented by up-regulation of PGC-1α [75]. Subsequent preclinical studies have reported that treatment with metformin had a beneficial effect on PD-like symptoms, reduced degeneration of substantia nigra pars compacta DA neurons, ameliorated loss of cell viability, increased dopamine levels and improved motor functions in neurotoxin, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrehydropyridine (MPTP) rodent models of PD [76-79].

Progression of PD has been attributed to high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increased oxidative stress driving dopaminergic neuronal loss [80]. Metformin treatment lowered oxidative stress and increased expression of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase in MPTP-induced mice [78]. Interestingly, in transgenic mice with conditional knockout of AMPK α1 and α2 subunits in DA cells, metformin treatment for 3 weeks continued to show neuroprotective effects, implying targets other than AMPK for its site of action [79]. There have been numerous documentations of metformin exhibiting positive effects on patients with PD. The underlying mechanisms through which this occurs remain elusive and contributions from mechanistic pathways independent of AMPK, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling, should not be overlooked. For example, blocking trkB, the tyrosine kinase receptor for BDNF, resulted in the loss of neuroprotective effects of metformin in MPTP-induced mice. Furthermore, BDNF signaling was increased in MPTP PD-induced mice treated with metformin [77,78].

PD has also been linked to nonfunctional HTRA2 and PINK1 in humans and animals [81]. It is suggested that TRAP1 may be a downstream effector of HTRA2 and PINK1, and TRAP1 over-expression could remedy HTRA2 and PINK1 induced mitochondrial dysfunction in human cells [81]. Metformin recovered the impaired mitochondrial membrane potential induced by the Hsp90 family/TRAP1 inhibitor 17-AAG [81]. Moreover, metformin suppressed downstream events of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response such as elevated turnover of mitochondria [81]. Finally, metformin has proven beneficial in minimizing the long-term side effects of L-DOPA treatment, such as dyskinesias, in animal models of PD, without interfering with the positive therapeutic effect of L-DOPA [82].

Huntington’s disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary disorder that results in progressive cognitive decline, psychiatric phenotypes and chorea [83]. This neurodegenerative disease involves autosomal dominant inheritance of the defective huntingtin (htt) gene [69]. When the mutated htt gene has more than 36 CAG repeats it translates with an extended polyglutamine tract, rendering the protein unstable [83]. Instability of the extended homopolymer leads to misfolding of the mutant huntingtin protein (mHtt) that triggers and overloads the ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation system [84]. mHtt forms toxic aggregates with itself and other proteins, leading to depletion of several molecules and neuronal degeneration, primarily in the striatum [85,86].

Studies have been performed in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans models of HD with an 88 or 128 polyglutamine expansion at the N-terminal of Htt [87]. Following systemic metformin treatment, the nematodes demonstrated improvements in neuronal function, including improved sensitivity to touch [88]. Furthermore, inclusion of aak-2 (ok524), a loss of function allele that is the worm homolog of AMPKα1, into the 128Q C. elegans model blocked the positive effects of metformin [88].

Male mice carrying the 150 CAG extended mHtt protein exhibit early stages of HD and oral metformin treatment corrected abnormal neuronal function and prevented anxiety behaviors detected prior to onset of overt disease. This was associated with increased neuronal hyperactivity in layers 2 and 3 of the visual cortex in heterozygous Hdh150 mice [89]. Consequently, metformin modulated the MIDI/PP2A/mTOR protein complex to decrease translation of mRNA coding for mHtt protein and depress mHtt load [89]. AMPK activation seems to exert more extensive neuroprotective effects when triggered in early phases of HD progression. Detrimental effects of overactivated AMPK leading to neurodegeneration were investigated in R6/2 mice with 212 ±9 CAG repeats, a model of more advanced HD [90]. The AMPK activator aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) increased mHtt aggregates, worsened motor coordination and increased apoptotic neuronal death in the striatum [90]. Activation of AMPK by metformin may therefore be a treatment option only in early stages of HD when levels of AMPK are low [86,88].

Metformin has shown positive outcomes in human trials. In a cohort study consisting of 4325 HD patients, 121 of them were using metformin for treatment of T2D. Patients using metformin performed significantly better in cognitive and executive functioning tasks compared to HD patients not receiving metformin [86].

Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which CD4 T cells, astrocytes and microglia invade the CNS and cause damage via neuroinflammation, demyelination and destruction of neuronal support cells [91,92]. Recent therapeutic approaches for MS include controlling regulatory immune responses and preservation of oligodendrocyte function.

Metformin improved pathological features of MS in a commonly used mouse model of MS induced by the toxin cuprizone [93]. Metformin alleviated signs of oxidative stress in the corpus callosum and mitochondrial dysfunction [94]. PGC-1α expression was downregulated in this MS mouse model and this was also prevented by metformin treatment [93]. The increased expression of PGC-1α gene elicited by metformin treatment was associated with elevated expression of the mitofusin-2 (MFN2) gene, which promotes mitochondrial fusion [93]. Treatment with metformin maintained a significantly higher number of oligodendrocytes and its precursor cells, improved myelination and lowered activated astrocytes and microglia, thus reducing gliosis [93]. Metformin also significantly (p < 0.05) increased the expression of other genes that are critical for proper mitochondrial and metabolic function such as NRF-1 (controls mitochondrial DNA expression), TFAM (activator of mitochondrial transcription) and GAPDH (responsible for regulating bioenergetics) [93]. Metformin activated the AMPK pathway in pertussis toxin (PTX)-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model of MS and this was associated with a reduced number of inflammatory lesions and diminished severity of demyelination [95]. In supporting work, metformin increased mRNA transcripts for neuroprotective CNTF, interferon-λ and PDGF in mixed glial cell cultures and this was associated with AMPK activation [95].

Stroke

Stroke is the 2nd leading cause of death globally [96,97]. In addition to stroke, cardiac dysfunctions commonly lead to cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injuries [98]. Ischemic injuries drive neuron and support cell damage and can involve mitochondrial deficits, oxidative stress, disruption of the blood-brain barrier, elevated neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammation [98]. Not only has metformin been accredited with the ability to reduce the probability of future stroke occurrences, but studies have also suggested that acute and chronic metformin treatment are both effective in repairing cerebral damage post-stroke.

M2-activated microglia promote clearance of cellular debris and heighten the expression of growth factors and anti-inflammatory molecules such as interleukin-10, interleukin-4 and TGF-β [95,98,99]. Activated microglia are polarized into the neuroprotective M2 phenotype in response to ischemic injury but quickly revert back to M1 phenotype [99]. An in vitro study utilized lipopolysaccharide to simulate ischemic injury in microglia and then evaluated the potential of metformin to promote protection [100]. Metformin triggered the lipopolysaccharide injured microglia to up-regulate AMPK and release elevated levels of interleukin-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine [100]. Metformin induced an M2 polarization state of BV2 microglia through an AMPK-dependent mechanism [100]. In addition, metformin administered for 30 days following middle cerebral artery occlusion to replicate damage and neural recovery signaling succedent to a stroke, improved angiogenesis and neurogenesis [100].

In rats receiving metformin for 2 weeks prior to stroke induction by sudden cardiac arrest, there was a 30% increase in survival after 7 days [101], with significantly higher neurological function in assessments done 24, 48 and 72 hours after return of regular blood flow compared to the vehicle group [101]. Immunohistochemical assessment 7 days after the return of regular blood flow showed a significantly reduced quantity of viable neurons in the vehicle group compared to the metformin pre-treatment group [101]. The increase in neuroprotective effects seen in the pre-treated metformin group were abolished with intracerebroventricular administration of AMPK-inhibitor compound C [101]. AMPK activation in the hippocampus of the metformin treated group was accompanied by an enhanced autophagic response, possibly linked to augmented removal of aberrant cellular protein accumulated due to stress, and may have contributed to functional recovery [101].

Metformin and epilepsy

Currently there are several anti-epileptic medications available but none address disease progression and all have various side effects [102]. Epilepsy has been repeatedly linked to upregulated mTOR signaling [103]. AMPK protein levels were significantly lower in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and in animal models with acute and chronic seizures [104]. Activated AMPK is able to block mTOR signaling downstream by phosphorylating mTOR regulatory proteins such as regulatory associated protein of mTOR known as raptor and tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2), a tumor suppressor also known as tuberin [105]. The concurrent activation of AMPK alongside restriction of mTOR provides promising therapeutic attributes to support seizure termination by metformin.

Treating rats with pilocarpine hydrochloride-induced epilepsy for 5 days with metformin decreased levels of p-mTOR protein and elevated levels of p-AMPK protein along with having anti-epileptic and anti-convulsant effects [106]. It has recently been suggested that mTOR regulation of autophagy may be responsible for the anti-convulsant effects [107]. Metformin treatment also suppressed expression of BDNF and its receptor, trkB, which are hyper-expressed in the epileptic brain and represent a pathological signaling cascade in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy [106,108]. Chronic metformin treatment also reduced the duration and mortality from generalized tonic-clonic seizures in a pentylenetetrazol acute seizure model [104]. Interestingly, metformin contributed to acute seizure termination but did not influence their initiation or severity [104].

Diseases of the peripheral nervous system

Distal dying-back or degeneration of nerve fibers is observed in many peripheral neuropathies including diabetic neuropathy, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), Friedreich’s ataxia, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2 and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated distal-symmetric neuropathy. It is becoming increasingly recognized that all of these neuropathies have some degree of mitochondrial dysfunction [109-112]. This is pertinent, as the growth cone motility required to maintain fields of innervation in the constantly changing environment of the epidermis consumes 50% of ATP supplies in neurons due to high rates of actin treadmilling [113]. Maintenance of plastic innervation therefore requires high consumption of ATP [114,115]. Unmyelinated axons are also more energetically demanding than myelinated axons, consuming 2.5–10-fold more energy per action potential [116]. Mitochondria are known to concentrate in regions of high metabolic demand [117] and sensory terminal boutons are packed with mitochondria [118]. Consequently, there is an ongoing focus on the AMPK pathway both as a lesion site and as a target for therapeutic intervention given its key role in modulating cellular bioenergetics. Studies with resveratrol and other AMPK activators indicate a capacity to drive nerve repair in a number of peripheral neuropathies. The efficacy of metformin is less well developed and, in the context of diabetes, is accompanied by concerns that it may exacerbate nerve damage.

Peripheral nerve regeneration and repair

Peripheral nerves possess endogenous repair systems but with age and concomitant disease it becomes increasingly difficult to recover from injury [119]. There are recent reports that metformin may improve the rate of axon regeneration in the PNS following nerve injury.

Metformin and nerve fiber regeneration

Axon regeneration is an energetically expensive process that requires coordinated mitochondrial function. Antioxidants increase neurite outgrowth and stabilize microtubules [120], which are highly vulnerable to oxidation induced structural instability that fosters axonal degeneration [120,121]. In a recent study, metformin protected the spinal cord from damage by activating an antioxidant pathway involving nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) that binds to the antioxidant response element (ARE) to improve mitochondrial function and reduce oxidative stress [122]. This pathway was activated via the PI 3-K/Akt pathway and blocked by inhibitors of PI-3 kinase, with heightened expression of acetylated tubulin and microtubule associated protein providing stabilization of microtubules in axons and integrity of dendrites, respectively [122].

Autophagy clears cellular debris that accumulates at the site of peripheral nerve damage and provides optimal conditions for nerve repair [123]. Metformin induced inhibition of the mTORC1 pathway has been linked to stimulating autophagy [124]. LC3-II is a commonly used marker to assess activity of lysosomal mediated autophagy [119] and expression was upregulated in rats with sciatic nerve injury and autophagy following metformin treatment [119]. Increased autophagy also correlated with reduced cell mortality, enhanced myelination and improved motor function recovery while addition of 3-methyl adenine, an autophagy inhibitor, blocked the positive effects of metformin [119]. Finally, metformin protected cultured Schwann cells from hypoxia-induced stress and up-regulated AMPK and an array of neurotrophic molecules to enhance Schwann cell survival, adhesion and migration [125].

Our own recent studies show that metformin can directly enhance axon regeneration in vitro, independent of putative effects on Schwann cell biology and myelination. Adult DRG neurons isolated from control rats and exposed to 0.3 mM metformin for 24 hours showed a significant elevation in total neurite outgrowth (Figure 3A–E). These structural effects of metformin also corresponded with a significant activation of AMPK over a 1 hour treatment period Figure 3F, G. Analysis of mitochondrial function confirmed that metformin was significantly suppressing electron transport and generating a reduced maximal and spare respiratory capacity Figure 4. The latter parameter is important because it is indicative of a reduced capacity for the cultured neurons exposed to metformin to respond to energetic demands. However, under these culture conditions and time scale it appears that axon regeneration can still be augmented. Thus, metformin was acting as predicted to partially block electron flow within the respiratory chain and activate AMPK [29]. These data support the suggestion that AMPK activators such as metformin or resveratrol could serve as therapies to enhance axon regeneration after peripheral nerve injury.

Figure 3.

Metformin augmented neurite outgrowth and activated AMPK in adult sensory neurons.

In (A) and (B) are fluorescent images of adult DRG neuron cultures maintained for 24 hours without neurotrophic growth factors. The size marker indicates 100 μm. In both (C) and (D) are fluorescent images of adult rat sensory neurons that were treated with 0.3 mM metformin. In (E) is quantification of total neurite outgrowth in response to a range of metformin doses (0.03 mM, 0.1 mM and 0.3 mM). The pixel density used to quantify neurite outgrowth was adjusted to cell number. See [126] for details on this in vitro culture system. Values are means ± SEM (n = 6 replicate cultures). *P < 0.05 vs control. Statistics were performed by one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s post hoc test. DRG = dorsal root ganglia; met = metformin. In (F) are presented Western blots derived from total protein samples of DRG cultures exposed to 0.3 mM metformin for 0–60 min and probed for total AMPK (T-AMPK) and phosphorylated AMPK (P-AMPK). (G) reveals the data for P-AMPK normalized to T-AMPK. Values are means ± SEM, n = 3 replicate cultures. *P < 0.01 vs control. Statistics were performed by one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s post hoc test. Similar effect of metformin was observed when P-AMPK was normalized to total protein on the blot (not shown). We confirm that all ethical standards were followed according to Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of California, San Diego, and by the University of Manitoba Animal Care Committee following Canadian Council of Animal Care rules.

Figure 4.

Metformin inhibits mitochondrial function in cultured adult sensory neurons.

DRG sensory neurons derived from a control rat were cultured for 24 hours in the absence of neurotrophic factors and then treated with 0.03 mM or 0.3 mM metformin for 6 hours. The cultures were then analyzed for cellular bioenergetics in the Seahorse XF24 Analyzer as described previously [57,126]. The various bioenergetic parameters were determined and are explained as previously published [127]. In (A) the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) is displayed and the addition of drugs including oligomycin (oligo), FCCP and rotenone/antimycin A (rot/AA) indicated. All OCR values were normalized to total protein in the culture. Values are means ± SEM; n = 6–7 replicate cultures. *P < 0.05 vs control. Statistics were performed by one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s post hoc test. (B) to (E) present data for each of the bioenergetic parameters.

Resveratrol and stimulation of axon regeneration

Resveratrol is a more potent activator of AMPK than metformin [58] and activated AMPK in Neuro2a cells (an immortalized sensory neuron clonal cell line), primary DRG neurons and the brain accompanied by AMPK-dependent mitochondrial biogenesis and robust neurite outgrowth that was blocked by genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of AMPK [60]. Resveratrol also increased neurite outgrowth from adult sensory neurons derived from streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, without having effect on neurite outgrowth from normal adult sensory neurons [57]. It is proposed that this differential effect is due to the preexisting decreased expression and activity of AMPK and PGC-1α under diabetic conditions [28,57,111,128,129] so that low AMPK activity prior to resveratrol treatment rendered the cells more responsive to resveratrol-induced AMPK activation [57]. Studies have indicated that nutrient excess under diabetic conditions, mediates AMPK/PGC-1α pathway down-regulation, which is reversed by resveratrol treatment [57,129].

Neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain and its management are complex, involving numerous potential mechanisms and pathways [130]. Recent research has investigated the role of AMPK activators as potential therapeutics capable of modulating the development and course of assorted neuropathic pain states [131].

Studies with resveratrol

The polyphenol resveratrol has been of interest to pain researchers due to its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects and its efficacy has been tested in a variety of animal models of neuropathic pain [132]. For example, daily intraperitoneal injections of resveratrol significantly increased the anti-inflammatory markers IL-4Rα, IL-10 R and others in the dorsal spinal cord while improving mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in the rat chronic constriction injury (CCI) model [133]. Allodynia induced by CCI of the trigeminal nerve in rats is also amenable to resveratrol treatment [134] with efficacy being prevented by the AMPK inhibitor Compound C, suggesting that AMPK inactivation was involved. Resveratrol has also shown promise in rodent models of diabetic neuropathy. Following daily treatment with resveratrol for a period of 4 weeks in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat model of type 1 diabetes, significant improvements in thermal hyperalgesia were recorded [135].

Treating neuropathic pain with metformin

The capacity of metformin to attenuate neuropathic pain has been studied in a variety of models. In a mouse model of low back pain achieved by lumbar disc puncture, metformin and the direct AMPK activator O304 significantly improved pain thresholds, as assessed by von Frey filament testing of the hind paws [136]. A similar lumbar disc herniation model in rats characterized by increased thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia was significantly improved following daily metformin treatment that began 1 week prior to disc herniation [137]. Interestingly, the signaling molecule mTOR was upregulated in the DRG of these rats following lumbar disc herniation. Both metformin and the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin reduced these levels to baseline and improved pain indices [137]. However, while mTOR complex 1 inhibitors were developed to treat chronic pain, some can cause debilitating pain syndromes [138]. For example, mTORC1 inhibition with rapamycin resulted in dose-dependent mechanical allodynia in mouse and rat models of spared nerve injury and spinal nerve ligation. Metformin treatment achieved a complete reversal of previously established neurologic pain while AMPK activators metformin and A769662 achieved a remarkable reversal of the mechanical allodynia produced by spared nerve injury or sciatic nerve ligation [139]. Apart from the mTOR pathway, the opioid receptor system may also be involved in metformin’s anti-nociceptive action as the opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone attenuated the reduced mechanical allodynia provided by metformin in the CCI model [140]. Metformin also produces an anti-hyperalgesic effect in a mouse model of post-operative pain with P-AMPK levels being restored to pre-surgery levels [141].

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

A number of cytotoxic chemotherapeutic drugs cause debilitating side effects including chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). CIPN commonly presents as shooting and stabbing pain, allodynia and numbness in a stocking-and-glove fashion that is similar to diabetic neuropathy [142]. Accumulation of chemotherapeutics in the central and peripheral nervous systems and resultant mitochondrial and neurologic dysfunction are believed to be key mechanisms behind CIPN [109,110,112] and AMPK activators have been tested in the prevention and treatment of CIPN. Paclitaxel-induced mechanical hypersensitivity and hyperalgesic priming in mice were both prevented by the AMPK activator narciclasine while metformin attenuated hyperalgesic priming, but was unable to reverse mechanical allodynia [143]. In a cisplatin model of CIPN, metformin effectively prevented mechanical allodynia when given concurrently with cisplatin whereas delaying metformin treatment until after establishment of CIPN failed to reverse neuropathy [144]. Intraepidermal nerve fiber loss was also attenuated by metformin treatment [144]. In oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy in mice, metformin achieved partial prevention of mechanical hyperalgesia and a significant reduction in cold allodynia [145]. In the DRG of these mice, significantly elevated levels of c-Fos and ATF3, markers of neuronal activation and damage respectively, were prevented by metformin. In a bortezomib model of CIPN, elevated levels of hypoxia inducible factor α (HIF1α) were detected in lumbar DRG of male ICR mice [146]. HIF1α levels appear to be important in the pathogenic cascade, as HIF1α interruption with echinomycin or anti-HIF1α siRNA prevented allodynia. After metformin treatment, HIF1α levels were significantly reduced and neuropathic pain was prevented. There is little current data on the effects of resveratrol on CIPN. One study in cisplatin-induced neuropathy in rats showed that when given together, resveratrol and monosodium glutamate significantly attenuated thermal hyperalgesia produced by cisplatin treatment [147].

Metformin and diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Uncontrolled chronic hyperglycemia, loss of insulin signaling in peripheral tissues and dyslipidemia are considered the primary catalysts that lead to potentially devastating complications of diabetes such as nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy [148]. Intermediate pathogenic mechanisms include multiple aberrations in metabolic function, inflammation, vascular insufficiency, and oxidative stress [149,150]. The most common form of diabetic neuropathy is a distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPN) [151]. DSPN is often diagnosed long after onset, once disease has progressed to the point of obvious objective findings. The natural history of DSPN is characterized by progressive loss of vibration and pain sensation, paresthesias and weakness that begins in the feet and hands, extending proximally [130]. Pain also occurs in around 30% of patents [152]. At the conclusion of a ten-year follow up study, patients with DSPN exhibited significantly decreased vibration sense and Achilles tendon reflexes and increased paresthesia and pain compared to non-diabetic controls; poor glycemic control was correlated with disease progression [153]. A recent meta-analysis has shown that duration of diabetes, advancing age, elevated HbA1c and presence of diabetic retinopathy are strong risk factors for the development of DSPN [154]. Elevated BMI and a history of smoking were not found to be risk factors in that study, although other research has suggested the opposite [148]. Early studies suggested disease progression could be halted and even reversed, with conduction velocities in the popliteal and median nerves being improved significantly after only 6-months of medical hyperglycemic management [155]. Subsequent research has found that a basal-bolus insulin management regimen mitigated microvascular complications, including neuropathy, with significant improvements in median nerve conduction velocities after 6.5 years [156].

Involvement of AMPK signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy is suggested by studies that investigated AMPK expression in the spinal cord and DRG of rats fed a high fat diet (HFD) to model early T2D [157]. HFD-fed rats displayed increased pain sensitivity and elevated levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide, the primary neurotransmitter of nociceptive C fibers. Elevating AMPK activity with the AMPK activator, AICAR, led to decreased pain sensitivity and mechanical allodynia in HFD fed rats compared to rats fed a low-fat diet.

Use of metformin to treat indices of diabetic neuropathy in rodents has yielded mixed findings to date. Positive metformin effects on neuropathy and neuropathic pain have been demonstrated by multiple research groups. Metformin reduced the deposition of destructive glycotoxins in the sciatic nerves of STZ-diabetic rats, resulting in improved conduction velocity compared to healthy controls [158]. Metformin also dose-dependently improved heat and mechanical hyperalgesia in STZ-diabetic rats without having any effect in healthy controls [159]. Activation of AMPK and key target proteins, SIRT3, nNOS, and PGC-1α was also observed in sciatic nerve and reduced oxidative stress, as determined by reduction in glycotoxin formation and increased production of superoxide dismutase, suggested a protective mechanism [159]. In the dorsal horn of diabetic rats, an increase in synaptic number was considered suggestive of increased sensitivity and neuropathic pain [160]. Metformin reduced hyperalgesia and mitigated the increase in synapse number in the L5 segment of the spinal cord of diabetic rats [161]. Attenuation of the inflammatory response to hyperglycemia in peripheral nerves was another consequence of metformin treatment [162]. Thus, upregulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β, in the peripheral nerves of diabetic mice, was dose-dependently attenuated by metformin treatment, concurrent with an increase in neurotrophic and angiogenic factors, whereas the upregulation of TNF-α was not affected by metformin [162]. Most recently, metformin treatment prevented development of tactile allodynia and paw pressure hyperalgesia but not heat hyperalgesia in rats with combined STZ and HFD induced diabetes [163]. This was accompanied by protection of large diameter fiber in the sciatic nerve and loss of small sensory fibers in the skin.

Negative impacts of metformin on the course and progression of diabetic neuropathy have also been suggested in both humans and animals, with a report of more severe indices of neuropathy in patients receiving metformin treatment [164] and a claim of exacerbated myelin damage in HFD mice [165]. However, while prolonged metformin use has been associated with worsening DSPN, so is prolonged diabetes, making it difficult to delineate whether metformin is contributory or not [166]. As discussed below, metformin is also regularly associated with vitamin B12 deficiency, another potential cause of neuropathy [167].

Resveratrol and diabetic peripheral neuropathy

The therapeutic effects of resveratrol have been studied in a variety of conditions including cardiovascular disease, longevity, and metabolic disturbances [168]. The free radical scavenging capacity and anti-inflammatory properties of resveratrol also make it of interest as a potential treatment for complications of diabetes such as hypertension, retinopathy, and cardiovascular disease. Resveratrol weakly improves insulin sensitivity and decreases markers of oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes [169]. Activation of Akt, an intracellular signaling pathway activated by insulin, also occurs. In another study, BMI was found to be significantly reduced after resveratrol treatment [170]. Production of superoxide anion was also significantly reduced with associated upregulation of superoxide dismutase and Nrf2, a regulator of antioxidant gene expression [170]. In contrast, no change in peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitization was detected in patients with appropriately managed type 2 diabetes following 30 days of resveratrol supplementation [171].

Given the effects of metformin described above, the therapeutic profile of resveratrol on nerve function and metabolic parameters in diabetes has also been investigated. Conduction velocity in the sciatic nerves of diabetic rats significantly improved after only 2 weeks of resveratrol treatment [172]. This was associated with increased sciatic blood flow, decreased oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation and improvements in hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. Further studies replicated the capacity of resveratrol to correct nerve conduction slowing and also demonstrated decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine and NF-κB production in a dose-dependent manner [173]. Plasma glucose levels were not affected by resveratrol. Increased neurite outgrowth and AMPK activation following resveratrol treatment has been reported in DRG cultures derived from STZ-induced type 1 diabetic rats. Over-expression of dominant negative AMPK mutants blocked any effect of resveratrol treatment suggesting that AMPK activation was an essential mechanistic step [57]. Respiratory complex impairment and mitochondrial phenotype in STZ-diabetic rats were also significantly improved by systemic resveratrol treatment alongside reductions in thermal hypoalgesia.

Metformin, B12 deficiency, and neuropathy

The potential of metformin as a therapy for diabetic neuropathy has been complicated by reports of an association between long-term use of metformin and the development of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency [174]. Deficiency in B12 can lead to a form of neuropathy that is clinically indistinguishable from DSPN, characterized by symmetrical paresthesia, loss of sensation, and gait disturbances [175]. Characteristics such as age, race, time since diabetes diagnosis, and metformin dose and duration of use all likely affect the development of B12 deficiency, as well as metformin-related neuropathy [176]. However the association has been considered strong enough to prompt the American Diabetes Association to recommend periodic testing of B12 levels in those with a history of neuropathy or anemia and long-term metformin use [5]. Early research suggested that malabsorption of B12 may be the primary mechanism of deficiency, occurring in a manner independent of intrinsic factor (IF) levels [177]. Supplementation with calcium, an essential mineral for ileal B12-IF receptor function, produced partial reversal of B12 deficiency in diabetic subjects as determined by measured holotranscobalamin levels, an earlier and more sensitive measure of deficiency than serum B12, offering more support for the putative malabsorption mechanism [178]. Other mechanisms for B12 malabsorption have also been investigated [179].

Various RCTs and observational studies have also investigated the clinical effects of metformin on diabetic neuropathy and B12 deficiency. A cross-sectional study demonstrated a significant inverse relationship between metformin dose and serum B12 levels [180]. Length of metformin use did not appear to be correlated with B12 levels. Furthermore, 64% of study patients with diabetic neuropathy had low or borderline levels of B12. In another observational study, those subjects with definite B12 deficiency experienced a greater incidence of diabetic neuropathy that was also correlated with increasing length of metformin use [166]. A follow-up to the HOME trial was the first long-term study to show permanent changes to B12 levels following metformin use [181]. Metformin dose and treatment duration were found to be significant determinants of B12 levels, which were demonstrably lower at study conclusion. Homocysteine, a more sensitive measure of B12 deficiency was also elevated, further supporting overall deficiency in B12. Elevated methylmalonic acid, another marker of B12 deficiency, was also positively correlated with cumulative metformin use while clinical presentation of neuropathy as determined by the validated Toronto Clinical Severity Score, was worsened along with lower conduction velocities in sural and superficial peroneal nerves [164]. More assessment of the HOME trial data showed that rising methylmalonic acid levels were associated with increasing cumulative dose of metformin [7]. Surprisingly, there was no apparent effect of metformin on the presence of neuropathy and it was hypothesized that the glycemic effect of metformin mitigated the deleterious effects of rising methylmalonic acid levels. Further definitive research is required to fully delineate the effects of metformin on the development of DSPN, separate from potential associated B12 deficiency.

Expert opinion

Metformin has proven protective in a wide variety of animal models of neurological disease that exhibit an array of differing etiologies. The primary target of metformin action is activation of AMPK and the subsequent downstream suppression of mTOR pathway activity, accompanied by upregulation of autophagy. In PD and MS, the likely therapeutic pathway is metformin-dependent augmentation of mitochondrial function, with no clear evidence of mTOR pathway involvement. The literature provides compelling support for metformin acting via suppression of mTOR pathway activity to reduce toxic protein translation, in HD, and aberrant excitability, in epilepsy. Of note, in a cohort of patents with HD exhibiting T2D, the presence of metformin therapy was protective [86]. Mechanisms of metformin-dependent protection in stroke are less clear.

In the PNS, metformin elevated AMPK activity and corrected various clinically relevant endpoints in models of nerve regeneration, neuropathic pain, CIPN and diabetic neuropathy. The involvement of optimized mitochondrial function remains unclear, although, studies with resveratrol demonstrate a strong link between up-regulation of AMPK and improved mitochondrial bioenergetics. However, caution must be used when comparing metformin’s effects directly with those generated by resveratrol; both activate AMPK in the CNS and PNS. However, in the case of metformin there is a direct negative impact on mitochondrial electron transport which then triggers compensatory mechanisms, involving AMPK, which then act to enhance mitochondrial performance, biogenesis and dynamics. Resveratrol can achieve all of these effects while not initially causing a negative impact on mitochondrial function. Study of the differential effects of metformin vs resveratrol on mitochondrial bioenergetics in various disease settings and durations will be critical. In nerve regeneration, neuropathic pain and CIPN metformin therapy is protective, in part, via suppression of mTOR pathway activity. The reduction in translation of specific proteins linked to pain pathway activation and/or the triggering of autophagy combine to optimize nerve regeneration and function. It remains uncertain how autophagy is being regulated by metformin in these various neurological settings. It is feasible that AMPK activation is directly driving elevated autophagy independently of any involvement of the mTOR pathway [182].

There is a significant need for additional investigations of the effects of short-term vs long term therapy with metformin in various models of neurological disease. Over the short-term it is apparent that metformin interference with mitochondrial function can trigger a neuroprotective AMPK-dependent response. However, over the longer term it is plausible that the ‘assault’ on the mitochondrial respiratory chain eventually proves too damaging, leading to neurodegeneration. Coupled to this approach is the need to carefully assess metformin dose. In HD, low doses of metformin impacted the mTOR pathway without concurrent impact on AMPK [89]. Only at higher doses of metformin was AMPK activation observed. In this scenario, htt translation was suppressed via an mTOR pathway independent of upstream AMPK activation. The same complexities are likely operating in other neurodegenerative diseases.

Any potential therapeutic approach involving metformin will have to be carefully adjusted for dose and duration of treatment given that metformin’s primary action is to block electron flow within the mitochondrion. The therapeutic aim should be to minimize the impact on electron flow while maximizing activation of downstream protective pathways, such as AMPK. The array of preclinical studies cited in this review that demonstrate efficacy of metformin against a range of clinically relevant endpoints strongly support the feasibility of such an approach. With an appropriate dose, route and duration of treatment it appears that the downstream activation of protective pathways can overcome any deficit arising from disturbance of the electron transport pathway. This is presumably the consequence of increased mitochondrial refurbishment, optimized dynamics/trafficking and enhanced quality control via mitophagy. If the mitochondrial pool in the neuron or support cell is viewed as one homogenous entity, then partial inhibition of electron transport in each mitochondrial unit, which contains multiple Complex I units, may be overcome by the benefits of AMPK activation and its positive downstream effects on mitochondrial fidelity and function. Alternatively, there may be pools of mitochondria within a cell that are differentially targeted or impacted by the drug. For example, mitochondria of unmyelinated neurons in the epidermis exist in an environment that lacks direct vascular supply so that exposure to metformin following systemic delivery may be expected to be minimal. In contrast, mitochondria in the perikarya of the same neurons may be inhibited by systemic metformin due to the plentiful blood supply to the DRG. A metformin-triggered signal in the perikarya could spread anterogradely to the nerve ending via refurbished and rapidly transported mitochondria to enhance bioenergetic performance in the distal axonal compartment despite the absence of local metformin-induced injury. Mitochondria in the nerve ending or synapse drive plasticity and, if impaired in disease, could trigger distal dying-back of the axon or synaptic pruning; metformin therapy could overcome this mitochondrial deficit through either route described above.

The HD field has performed a number of mechanistic studies using transgenic knockout of AMPK subunits or delivery of siRNA to components of the putative metformin pathway followed by assessment of the effects of metformin on clinically relevant endpoints – for example, the elegant work by Vazquez-Manrique and colleagues [88]. These in vivo mechanistic approaches would be equally valuable if applied to models of MS, stroke and peripheral nerve disease to dissect metformin signaling pathways.

There is also a need for more detailed descriptions of mitochondrial dysfunction in neurological diseases of the CNS and PNS, with analysis of mitochondrial bioenergetics to determine impact of metformin on electron transport. Figure 4 shows in adult DRG cultures that metformin has a profound inhibitory effect on mitochondrial electron flow but whether metformin operates in this manner in vivo is unknown. The downstream consequences of metformin diverting cellular metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation via use of glucose as a substrate and toward fatty acid oxidation and/or glycolysis also need to be established. For example, fatty acid oxidation could presumably be limited due to the metformin block at Complex I, but due to its higher yield of ATP could still provide the energy needed for neuroprotection.

The importance of autophagy and mitophagy in these neurological diseases also requires further investigation. There are hints from numerous studies that metformin is mobilizing autophagy to trigger nerve regeneration and protection from degeneration. However, detailed and mechanistic experiments are required to dissect the activation pathways and their downstream targets and consequences. A key question is how AMPK activation is driving autophagy – is perhaps mobilization of AMPK by metformin directly activating ULK1 to enhance autophagy independent of the mTOR pathway? In addition, any modulatory role for AMPK signaling in the etiology of neurodegenerative disease remains to be determined. No genetic links with altered AMPK function have been identified. Given the intricate linkage between cellular energy status and AMPK activation status there is a need for experiments to dissect out any primary role of AMPK in the neurodegenerative process. What is clear, irrespective of any putative role for AMPK modulation in the disease process, is that activation of AMPK is protective and/or reparative in many disease settings. In HD the issue is complex with different roles for modulation of AMPK in early vs late disease progression. In other diseases, for example diabetic neuropathy, there is clear evidence that deactivation of AMPK is associated with development of pain and neuronal injury. However, there remains no definitive proof that this deactivation caused the pain and neuronal injury, although drug-induced activation of AMPK was neuroprotective.

Finally, more studies in patients with T2D under metformin therapy are required to assess impact on cognitive function or other neurological impairments in the CNS and PNS. Clinical trials in carefully selected neurologically impaired patient cohorts containing a sub-population suffering from T2D, similar to the study in HD reported by Hervas et al [86]. Obvious areas for further study are PD and Alzheimer’s disease (for example see [183]), where there is an aged population in whom T2D will be a common co-morbidity.