title: Adipose atrophy in cancer cachexia: morphologic and molecular analysis of adipose tissue in tumour-bearing mice.
abstract: Extensive loss of adipose tissue is a hallmark of cancer cachexia but the cellular and molecular basis remains unclear. This study has examined morphologic and molecular characteristics of white adipose tissue in mice bearing a cachexia-inducing tumour, MAC16. Adipose tissue from tumour-bearing mice contained shrunken adipocytes that were heterogeneous in size. Increased fibrosis was evident by strong collagen-fibril staining in the tissue matrix. Ultrastructure of 'slimmed' adipocytes revealed severe delipidation and modifications in cell membrane conformation. There were major reductions in mRNA levels of adipogenic transcription factors including CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) in adipose tissue, which was accompanied by reduced protein content of C/EBPalpha and SREBP-1. mRNA levels of SREBP-1c targets, fatty acid synthase, acetyl CoA carboxylase, stearoyl CoA desaturase 1 and glycerol-3-phosphate acyl transferase, also fell as did glucose transporter-4 and leptin. In contrast, mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha and uncoupling protein-2 were increased in white fat of tumour-bearing mice. These results suggest that the tumour-induced impairment in the formation and lipid storing capacity of adipose tissue occurs in mice with cancer cachexia.
authors.affiliation: Obesity Biology Unit, Division of Metabolic & Cellular Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK. bing@liverpool.ac.uk
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bing
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Becket
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pope
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tisdale
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trayhurn
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D001284:Atrophy; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002100:Cachexia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2
chemical_list: D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D007473:Ion Channels; D020738:Leptin; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D047495:PPAR gamma; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C495693:Slc2a4 protein, mouse; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1; C000604390:Ucp2 protein, mouse; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2