Fig. 1

Metformin-Induced Cell Death can be Inhibited by DFO. A Breast cancer lines were treated with metformin (5 mM) for 0, 12, 24, 36, or 48 h, and cell viability was assayed. B MCF7 and T47D cells were treated with metformin (0–80 mM) in the absence or presence of Z-VAD-FMK (20 μM), necrosulfonamide (1 μM), 3-Methyladenine (5 mM) or Deferoxamine (20 μM) for 48 h, and cell viability was assayed. C T47D cells were treated with metformin (5 mM) for 0, 12, 24, 36, or 48 h, and the relative levels of Fe²⁺ were assayed. D T47D cells were treated with metformin (5 mM) for 48 h in the absence or presence of Deferoxamine. The relative levels of Fe²⁺ were assayed. E T47D cells were treated with metformin (5 mM) for 48 h in the absence or presence of Deferoxamine. Microscopy showing cell death. Propidium iodide (PI) staining indicates dead cells (scale bar, 100 mM). Quantitative analysis of cell death was measured by PI staining coupled with flow cytometry