Response of hypothalamic NPY mRNAs to a negative energy balance is less sensitive in cachectic mice bearing human tumor cells

Nutr Cancer. 2001;41(1-2):111-8. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2001.9680621.

Abstract

We selected three human cancer cell lines [human melanoma (SEKI), human melanoma (G361), and human neuroepithelioma (NAGAI)] that have an ability to develop cancer cachexia syndrome with and without accompanying anorexia and examined the hypothalamic levels of mRNAs for neuropeptide Y (NPY), melanin-concentrating hormone, and orexin. The body weight of sham-operated mice continued to increase, while mice of all tumor-bearing groups lost weight. Competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that, regardless of feeding status, NPY mRNA levels were elevated in all tumor-bearing mice compared with sham-operated mice, although to a lesser degree than weight-matched pair-weight mice. Melanin-concentrating hormone and orexin mRNA in the hypothalamus followed the same pattern as NPY, although most of the differences did not reach statistical significance. These results support the notion that the response of NPY mRNA to a negative energy balance is less sensitive in these rodent models of cancer cachexia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cachexia / etiology
  • Cachexia / metabolism*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Eating
  • Energy Metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression*
  • Growth Inhibitors / blood
  • Growth Inhibitors / genetics
  • Humans
  • Hypothalamic Hormones / genetics
  • Hypothalamus / chemistry
  • Hypothalamus / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-6*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins*
  • Leukemia Inhibitory Factor
  • Lymphokines / blood
  • Lymphokines / genetics
  • Melanins / genetics
  • Melanoma, Experimental / complications
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / complications*
  • Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive, Peripheral / complications
  • Neuropeptide Y / genetics*
  • Neuropeptides / genetics
  • Orexins
  • Organ Size
  • Pituitary Hormones / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Weight Loss

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Growth Inhibitors
  • Hypothalamic Hormones
  • Interleukin-6
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • LIF protein, human
  • Leukemia Inhibitory Factor
  • Lif protein, mouse
  • Lymphokines
  • Melanins
  • Neuropeptide Y
  • Neuropeptides
  • Orexins
  • Pituitary Hormones
  • RNA, Messenger
  • melanin-concentrating hormone