Figure 6.

Metformin ameliorated iron overload through AMPK/FPN pathway in PA+FAC-induced WRL68 cells

(A) WRL68 cells were transfected with GFP-tagged human overexpression FPN plasmid. The protein expressions of FPN were confirmed by western blotting.

(B–D) Intracellular total iron, Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ levels. WRL68 cells were transfected with GFP-tagged human overexpression FPN plasmid or empty vector plasmid, then cells were treated with PA (0.4 mM), FAC (0.1 mM) without or with metformin (2.5 mM) or Compound C (15 μM), and intracellular total iron, Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ levels in WRL68 cells were measured. Data are represented as mean ± SEM (n = 3 in each group). Differences among groups were determined by one-way ANOVA analysis. ^∗∗p < 0.01, vs. control group; ^##p < 0.01, vs. PA+FAC+empty vector group; ^&&p < 0.01, vs. PA+FAC+empty vector +Met +Compound C group. PA, palmitic acid; FPN, ferroportin; FAC, ferric ammonium citrate.