title: Azaftig, a urinary proteoglycan from a cachectic cancer patient, causes profound weight loss in mice.
abstract: Cachexia is a complex medical condition characterized by significant weight loss associated with decreased body fat and protein; the condition may present itself with or without anorexia. We have isolated and partially characterized a proteoglycan (azaftig) from the urine of cancer and AIDS patients experiencing weight loss. When given to mice, the purified azaftig resulted in a significant decrease in body weight and body fat without any effect on appetite. The results of these studies show that azaftig may be one of the many factors participating in the emergence of the cachectic state.
authors.affiliation: Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, (Section of Infectious Diseases), LSU Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vijayagopal
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Debata
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prasad
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002100:Cachexia / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000652:urine; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000652:urine*; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D011509:Proteoglycans; C118838:azaftig