Level C· Early human research exploring benefitsProspective StudyEurope PMCOpen access

An immune-sympathetic neuron communication axis guides adipose tissue browning in cancer-associated cachexia

Xie H., Heier C., Meng X., Bakiri L., Pototschnig I., Tang Z.

Prospective Study, published in Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (2022) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.

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Level C· Early human research exploring benefitsEvidence level of this study

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

  • Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
  • Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
  • Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
  • Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
  • Emerging · Emerging topic under active research
Read the A–D evidence level guide

This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.

Study type
Prospective Study
Journal
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (2022)
Reported sample size
—
Source database
Europe PMC
PMID
35210363
PMCID
PMC8892347
DOI
10.1073/pnas.2112840119
Citations
56

Abstract (original English)

Cancer-associated cachexia (CAC) is a hypermetabolic syndrome characterized by unintended weight loss due to the atrophy of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. A phenotypic switch from white to beige adipocytes, a phenomenon called browning, accelerates CAC by increasing the dissipation of energy as heat. Addressing the mechanisms of white adipose tissue (WAT) browning in CAC, we now show that cachexigenic tumors activate type 2 immunity in cachectic WAT, generating a neuroprotective environment that increases peripheral sympathetic activity. Increased sympathetic activation, in turn, results in increased neuronal catecholamine synthesis and secretion, β-adrenergic activation of adipocytes, and induction of WAT browning. Two genetic mouse models validated this progression of events. 1) Interleukin-4 receptor deficiency impeded the alternative activation of macrophages, reduced sympathetic activity, and restrained WAT browning, and 2) reduced catecholamine synthesis in peripheral dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH)-deficient mice prevented cancer-induced WAT browning and adipose atrophy. Targeting the intraadipose macrophage-sympathetic neuron cross-talk represents a promising therapeutic approach to ameliorate cachexia in cancer patients.

What this study does not prove

  • • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.

Evidence level

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

How we grade evidence
NeuronsSympathetic Nervous SystemAnimalsHumansMiceNeoplasmsCachexiaReceptors, Adrenergic, betaCell CommunicationGene Expression

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