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Metabolism

WAT browning—key feature of cancer-associated cachexia

Nature Reviews Endocrinology volume 10, page 578 (2014)Cite this article

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Two new studies highlight the important role of white adipose tissue (WAT) browning in the development and progression of cancer-associated cachexia (CAC)—a wasting disorder of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle.

The researchers found increased levels of IL-6—a proinflammatory cytokine—in the blood of cachectic mice. Blocking IL-6 release in CAC mice rescued the cachectic phenotype. “Our data in animal models show that anti-inflammatory drugs are beneficial to ameliorate cachexia, but treatment should start as early as possible, before the full appearance of CAC,” says Wagner.

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References

  1. Petruzzelli, M. et al. A switch from white to brown fat increases energy expenditure in cancer-associated cachexia. Cell Metab. 10.1016/j.cmet.2014.06.011

  2. Kir, S. et al. Tumour-derived PTH-related protein triggers adipose tissue browning and cancer cachexia. Nature 10.1038/nature13528

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  1. David Holmes
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Holmes, D. WAT browning—key feature of cancer-associated cachexia. Nat Rev Endocrinol 10, 578 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2014.134

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