Metformin: A Potential Therapy for Periodontal Tissue Repair following periodontitis
Researchers have found in a new research that Metformin shows promise in promoting periodontal tissue repair following periodontitis. It is attained by controlling inflammation and enhancing cellular activity essential for tissue restoration.
Periodontitis is a destructive disease that affects periodontal tissue. While current research focuses on disease management, research on tissue repair remains limited. Metformin, a first-line medication for diabetes treatment, has positive effects on bone health in nondiabetic patients. However, its potential for repairing periodontal tissue remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the reparative effects of metformin on periodontitis-damaged periodontal tissue in mice.
A mouse model of periodontal repair was used, in which silk ligatures were removed from the molars after inducing periodontitis, followed by metformin administration. Histomorphometric and histological analyses were conducted to assess comprehensive repair of the periodontium. Additional in vitro studies were conducted to determine the effect of metformin on the function of the individual cells that comprise the periodontium.
RESULTS: Metformin treatment promoted the repair of periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, and cementum affected by periodontitis, as evaluated using microcomputed tomography based morphometric and histologic analyses. The therapeutic effect was linked to mitigating persistent inflammatory activity during periodontitis resolution, primarily attributed to the sustained presence of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), which may delay tissue repair. In vitro studies simulating this pathological condition showed that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation by metformin counteracted the effect of IL-1β, inhibited osteoclast differentiation and restored the osteogenic differentiation capacity of periodontal ligament cells and cementoblasts.
These findings suggest that metformin holds promise for repairing periodontal tissue following periodontitis, potentially through modulating inflammatory responses and regulating cellular differentiation processes.
Reference:
Wang, Zhao, et al. "Metformin Reverses Periodontal Destruction Caused By Experimental Periodontitis By Inhibiting Interleukin-1β Activity." Journal of Periodontology, 2025.
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