Figure 3.

Lowering glucose levels enables metformin to effectively increase cellular apoptosis and decreases levels of cell cycle-regulated proteins. (A) Cell lines MCF7, SK-BR-3, MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-231, and BT-549 were treated as described. Bar graphs show the percentage of cells in apoptosis (sub G₁ fraction) are representative of 3 independent experiments ± SE. (B) Mod Fit analysis of flow cytometry studies performed in (A) shown with the addition of cells treated with 0 mmol/L glucose with or without metformin. Percentage of cells in apoptosis, G₁, S, and G₂/M are representative of 3 independent experiments. (C) MDA-MB-468 cells were treated as described and western blots performed for E2F1, Cyclins (A, B, D1, and E). Data shown are representative of 3 independent experiments.