title: IL-4 mRNA Is Downregulated in the Liver of Pancreatic Cancer Patients Suffering from Cachexia.
abstract: Interleukin-4 (IL-4) together with interleukin-13 (IL-13) play an important role in inflammation and wound repair, and are known to be upregulated in human skeletal muscle after strenuous physical exercise. Additionally, these cytokines may act as autocrine growth factors in pancreatic cancer cells. We hypothesize that IL-4, IL-13, and their corresponding receptors are involved in mechanism of cancer cachexia.
  
  
  
  Tissue samples from human skeletal muscle, white fat, liver, healthy pancreas, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for mRNA expression levels of IL-4, IL-13, IL-4 receptor α, and IL-13 receptor α1.
  
  
  
  We demonstrate for the first time that liver IL-4 mRNA is downregulated in vivo in patients with pancreatic cancer and cachexia. Additionally, IL-4 mRNA in the liver inversely correlated with musculus psoas thickness.
  
  
  
  We speculate that suppression of IL-4 is involved in cancer cachexia, although the exact mechanisms have to be further elucidated.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgery , Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Prokopchuk
authors.affiliation: b Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine II , University of Ulm , Ulm , Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Steinacker
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgery , Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nitsche
authors.affiliation: b Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine II , University of Ulm , Ulm , Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgery , Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Jeannine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bachmann
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Radiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Elaine C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgery , Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Friess
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgery , Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Marc E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Martignoni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002100:Cachexia / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000235:genetics; D053661:Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha1 Subunit / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*; D053662:Interleukin-4 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: C578095:IL13 protein, human; C508181:IL13RA1 protein, human; C508598:IL4 protein, human; C504000:IL4R protein, human; D018793:Interleukin-13; D053661:Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha1 Subunit; D053662:Interleukin-4 Receptor alpha Subunit; D015847:Interleukin-4