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METABOLISM

Bacteria transmit metformin-associated lifespan extension

Nature Reviews Endocrinology volume 16, pages 9–10 (2020)Cite this article

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Metformin is the mainstay therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus. A new study shows that metformin acts directly on gut bacteria to elevate cAMP-induced agmatine production, thereby increasing lipid metabolism and lifespan in model organisms. These data identify links between metformin and gut microbiota that might be important for increasing longevity.

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Fig. 1: Metformin elicits a bacterial metabolite for longevity.

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Acknowledgements

G.R.S. acknowledges the support of a Canada Research Chair and the J. Bruce Duncan Endowed Chair in Metabolic Diseases and research grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (201709FDN-CEBA-116200, 144625–1) and Diabetes Canada. J.D.S. acknowledges the support of a Canada Research Chair and research grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Lesley T. MacNeil, Jonathan D. Schertzer & Gregory R. Steinberg

  2. Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Lesley T. MacNeil & Jonathan D. Schertzer

  3. Centre for Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Jonathan D. Schertzer & Gregory R. Steinberg

  4. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Gregory R. Steinberg

Authors
  1. Lesley T. MacNeil
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  2. Jonathan D. Schertzer
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  3. Gregory R. Steinberg
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Correspondence to Gregory R. Steinberg.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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MacNeil, L.T., Schertzer, J.D. & Steinberg, G.R. Bacteria transmit metformin-associated lifespan extension. Nat Rev Endocrinol 16, 9–10 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-019-0278-3

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