Interleukin-1beta system in anorectic catabolic tumor-bearing rats.
OBJECTIVE
The onset of cancer anorexia and the accompanying neurological symptoms and signs involve the general influence of cytokines on the brain. Using methylcholanthrene to induce tumors in Fischer 344 rats, we measured various specific components of the cytokine-induced anorectic reaction, including: (1) IL-1beta system components (ligand, signaling receptor, receptor accessory proteins, and receptor antagonist); (2) TNF-alpha; (3) TGF-beta1; and (4) IFN-gamma in the tumor tissue, the liver and the brain.


RESULTS
The data show that IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma messenger RNA were detected in the tumor tissue of anorectic tumor-bearing rats. In brain regions, anorexia is associated with the upregulation of IL-1beta and its receptor mRNA. All other mRNA remained unchanged in the brain regions examined.


CONCLUSIONS
This suggests that IL-1beta and its receptor may play a significant role in this model of cancer-associated anorexia. In vivo, the characterization of cytokine components in the brain may provide data for potential pharmacological interventions to ameliorate the anorexia of disease.
Turrin
Nicolas P
NP
Molecular Endocrinology and Oncology Research Centre, Laval University Hospital Centre, and Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Laval University, Ste-Foy, Québec, G1V 4G2, Canada.
Ilyin
Sergey E
SE
Gayle
Dave A
DA
Plata-Salamán
Carlos R
CR
Ramos
Eduardo J B
EJ
Laviano
Alessandro
A
Das
Undurti N
UN
Inui
Akio
A
Meguid
Michael M
MM
D000818:Animals; D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002100:Cachexia / Q000209:etiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma