Effects of testosterone and metformin on the GlycanAge index of biological age and the composition of the IgG glycome

Abstract

With aging, the body’s ability to maintain regular functions declines, increasing susceptibility to age-related diseases. Therapeutic interventions targeting the underlying biological changes of aging hold promise for preventing or delaying multiple age-related diseases. Metformin, a drug commonly used for diabetes treatment, has emerged as a potential gerotherapeutic agent due to its established safety record and preclinical and clinical data on its anti-aging effects. Glycosylation, one of the most common and complex co- and post-translational protein modifications, plays a crucial role in regulating protein function and has been linked to aging and various diseases. Changes in immunoglobulin G (IgG) glycosylation patterns have been observed with age, and these alterations may serve as valuable biomarkers for disease predisposition, diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and overall health assessment. In this study, we analyzed the IgG glycosylation patterns of white men from Europe, aged 29–45 years, under treatment with metformin, testosterone, metformin plus testosterone, and placebo (trial registration number NCT02514629, 2013/07/04), and investigated the longitudinal changes in glycosylation over time. We observed statistically significant differences in the IgG glycome composition between participants on testosterone therapy and placebo, with decreased agalactosylation and increased galactosylation and sialylation. However, metformin therapy did not result in statistically significant changes in glycosylation patterns. These findings contribute to our understanding of the impact of therapeutic interventions on IgG glycosylation and confirm the value of IgG glycosylation as a significant biomarker, capable of assessing biological age using the GlycanAge index and providing insight into overall health compared to chronological age.