Figure 7.

Metformin acts through a HIF1A/GLUT-dependent mechanism in SKOV-3 cells. The response of ovarian cancer cells to metformin depends on the level of glycemia, which affects diversely OGT and OGA expression and O-GlcNAcylation status. In NG, metformin increases the expression of OGT and downregulates HIF1A and GLUT expression leading to SKOV-3 cell apoptosis. HG dysregulates OGT and OGA expression and related HIF1A and GLUT expression preventing metformin-stimulated inhibition of growth and proliferation of SKOV-3 cells. Black arrows (HG conditions), blue arrows (NG conditions)—the height of arrow indicates intensification and direction of apoptotic changes, morphological changes and expression of the examined genes.