title: L-Carnitine induces recovery of liver lipid metabolism in cancer cachexia.
abstract: Cancer cachexia causes metabolic alterations with a marked effect on hepatic lipid metabolism. L-Carnitine modulates lipid metabolism and its supplementation has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy in many diseases. In the present study, the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on gene expression and on liver lipid metabolism-related proteins was investigated in cachectic tumour-bearing rats. Wistar rats were assigned to receive 1 g/kg of L-carnitine or saline. After 14 days, supplemented and control animals were assigned to a control (N), control supplemented with L-carnitine (CN), tumour-bearing Walker 256 carcinosarcoma (TB) and tumour-bearing supplemented with L-carnitine (CTB) group. The mRNA expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I and II (CPT I and II), microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP), liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha) and organic cation transporter 2 (OCTN2) was assessed, and the maximal activity of CPT I and II in the liver measured, along with plasma and liver triacylglycerol content. The gene expression of MTP, and CPT I catalytic activity were reduced in TB, who also showed increased liver (150%) and plasma (3.3-fold) triacylglycerol content. L-Carnitine supplementation was able to restore these parameters back to control values (p<0.05). These data show that L-carnitine preserves hepatic lipid metabolism in tumour-bearing animals, suggesting its supplementation to be of potential interest in cachexia.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Metabolism Research Group, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1524, CEP 05508-900, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silvério
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laviano
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi Fanelli
authors.forename: Marília
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seelaender
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002100:Cachexia / Q000178:diet therapy*; D002279:Carcinoma 256, Walker / Q000178:diet therapy*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002334:Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D002334:Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase; D002331:Carnitine