Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026

The Colon-26 Carcinoma Tumor-bearing Mouse as a Model for the Study of Cancer Cachexia
Published on: November 30, 2016
Cancer cachexia results in an increase in TNF-alpha receptor gene expression in both skeletal muscle and adipose
Maite Figueras1, Sílvia Busquets, Neus Carbó
1Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract:
The mRNA content of both TNF-alpha and its receptors (TNFR1 and TNFR2) in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue from cachectic rats has been assessed. The implantation of the Yoshida AH-130 ascites hepatoma resulted in substantial decrease in skeletal muscle TNF-alpha expression as early as at day 2 following tumour implantation. However, the mRNA content for the two receptors followed a different pattern, being significantly increased at day 7. In adipose tissue the expression of the TNF-alpha gene was significantly increased at all the time points studied, whereas TNF-alpha receptors expression followed a similar pattern to that observed in skeletal muscle. Western blot analysis indicated that the TNFR1 protein followed an identical pattern to that observed in the mRNA content both in muscle and adipose tissue. It is concluded that, during experimental cancer cachexia, the contribution of muscle-produced TNF-alpha is decreased; however, significant changes were observed in relation with TNF-alpha receptors at the skeletal muscle level that could possibly be related to the muscle wasting process associated with tumour growth.
Related Concept Videos
TGF - β Signaling Pathway
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
The Tumor Microenvironment
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Biologic Agents: Anti-TNF