Abstract Rationale Aging is accompanied by a decline in tissue repair mechanisms and the development of non-resolving fibrosis across organ systems, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality in the elderly. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is detrimental, progressive and aging-related lung disease characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition and loss of respiratory function. This study investigates whether AMPK activator metformin reverses established fibrosis and to delineate the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of fibrosis resolution in aging. Methods Lung fibrosis was induced in young (10-week) and aged (72-week) mice by orthopharyngeal administration of bleomycin (1.25 U/kg). Metformin (65 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered every other day for 14 days beginning 21 days post-bleomycin, coinciding with the peak of fibrosis. Lung tissues were analyzed using H HT9425-24-1-0304/US DOD
Becker et al. (Fri,) studied this question.