Theophylline is able to partially revert cachexia in tumour-bearing rats.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present investigation was to examine the anti-wasting effects of theophylline (a methylxantine present in tea leaves) on a rat model of cancer cachexia.


METHODS
The in vitro effects of the nutraceuticals on proteolysis were examined on muscle cell cultures submitted to hyperthermia. Individual muscle weights, muscle gene expression, body composition and cardiac function were measured in rats bearing the Yoshida AH-130 ascites hepatoma, following theophylline treatment.


RESULTS
Theophylline treatment inhibited proteolysis in C2C12 cell line and resulted in an anti-proteolytic effect on muscle tissue (soleus and heart), which was associated with a decrease in circulating TNF-alpha levels and with a decreased proteolytic systems gene expression. Treatment with the nutraceutical also resulted in an improvement in body composition and cardiac function.


CONCLUSIONS
Theophylline - alone or in combination with drugs - may be a candidate molecule for the treatment of cancer cachexia.
Cancer Research Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 645, Barcelona, 08028, Spain. mireiaolivan@gmail.com.
Mireia
M
Olivan
Jochen
J
Springer
Sílvia
S
Busquets
Anika
A
Tschirner
Maite
M
Figueras
Miriam
M
Toledo
Cibely
C
Fontes-Oliveira
Maria Inés
MI
Genovese
Paula
P
Ventura da Silva
Angelica
A
Sette
Francisco J
FJ
López-Soriano
Stefan
S
Anker
Josep M
JM
Argilés