Cancer cachexia alters intracellular surfactant metabolism but not total alveolar surface area

Dyspnoea is frequently observed in cancer cachectic patients. Little is known whether this is accompanied by structural or functional alterations of the lung. We hypothesized that in analogy to calorie restriction cancer cachexia leads to loss of alveolar surface area and surfactant. Mice were subjected to subcutaneous injection of Lewis lung carcinoma cells (tumour group, TG) or saline (control group, CG). Twenty-one days later blood samples and the lungs were taken. Using design-based stereology, the alveolar surface area and the lamellar body (Lb) content were quantified. Messenger RNA expression of surfactant proteins, ABCA3 and various growth factors was investigated by quantitative RT-PCR. Intraalveolar surfactant subtype composition was analyzed by differential centrifugation. TG mice showed reduced body weight and anaemia but no reduction of lung volume or alveolar surface area. The volume of Lb was significantly reduced and mRNA levels of ABCA3 transporter tended to be lower in TG versus CG. Surfactant protein expression and the ratio between active and inactive intraalveolar surfactant subtypes were not altered in TG. Growth factor mRNA levels were not different between CG and TG lungs but the tumour expressed growth factor mRNA. Vascular endothelial growth factor was significantly enhanced in blood plasma. The present study demonstrates structural alterations of the lung associated with cancer cachexia. These include reduction of Lb content despite normal intraalveolar surfactant and alveolar surface area. The pulmonary phenotype of the cancer cachectic mouse differs from the calorie restricted mouse possibly due to growth factors released from the tumour tissue.