Metformin prevents hypoxia-induced podocyte injury by regulating the ZEB2/TG2 axis.

This study demonstrates that HIF1α stimulates both TG2 expression and activity via ZEB2/TRPC6 axis, whereas abrogation of HIF1α by metformin prevented hypoxia-induced glomerular injury. Metformin could be explored to treat proteinuric diseases such as CKD, sleep apnea and renal Ischemia-reperfusion-injury, where hypoxia is considered a risk factor.