Adipose tissue fibrosis in human cancer cachexia: the role of TGF beta pathway

• Autor(a) principal: Alves, Michele Joana
• Data de Publicação: 2017
• Outros Autores: Figueredo, Raquel Galvao, Azevedo, Flavia Figueiredo, Cavallaro, Diego Alexandre [UNIFESP], Pinto Neto, Nelson Inacio [UNIFESP], Carola Lima, Joanna Darck, Matos-Neto, Emidio, Radloff, Katrin, Riccardi, Daniela Mendes, Camargo, Rodolfo Gonzalez, Martins De Alcantara, Paulo Sergio, Otoch, Jose Pinhata, Batista Junior, Miguel Luiz, Seelaender, Marilia
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNIFESP
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12885-017-3178-8; https://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/54928
• topic: Cancer cachexia; Fibrosis; Adipose tissue; Extracellular matrix; TGF beta

Background: Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome that dramatically decreases survival. Loss of white adipose tissue (WAT) is one of the key characteristics of cachexia. WAT wasting is paralleled by microarchitectural remodeling in cachectic cancer patients. Fibrosis results from uncontrolled ECM synthesis, a process in which, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) plays a pivotal role. So far, the mechanisms involved in adipose tissue (AT) re-arrangement, and the role of TGF beta in inducing AT remodeling in weight-losing cancer patients are poorly understood. This study examined the modulation of ECM components mediated by TGF beta pathway in fibrotic AT obtained from cachectic gastrointestinal cancer patients. Methods: After signing the informed consent form, patients were enrolled into the following groups: cancer cachexia (CC, n = 21), weight-stable cancer (WSC, n = 17), and control (n = 21). The total amount of collagen and elastic fibers in the subcutaneous AT was assessed by histological analysis and by immunohistochemistry. TGF beta isoforms expression was analyzed by Multiplex assay and by immunohistochemistry. Alpha-smooth muscle actin (aSMA), fibroblast-specific protein (FSP1), Smad3 and 4 were quantified by qPCR and/or by immunohistochemistry. Interleukin (IL) 2, IL5, IL8, IL13 and IL17 content, cytokines known to be associated with fibrosis, was measured by Multiplex assay. Results: There was an accumulation of collagen and elastic fibers in the AT of CC, as compared with WSC and controls. Collagens type I, III, VI, and fibronectin expression was enhanced in the tissue of CC, compared with both WSC and control. The pronounced expression of aSMA in the surrounding of adipocytes, and the increased mRNA content for FSP1 (20-fold) indicate the presence of activated myofibroblasts