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Updated: Oct 26, 2025
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The Colon-26 Carcinoma Tumor-bearing Mouse as a Model for the Study of Cancer Cachexia
Published on: November 30, 2016
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Novel noncoding RNA CircPTK2 regulates lipolysis and adipogenesis in cachexia
Zuoyou Ding1, Diya Sun1, Jun Han1
1Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Molecular Metabolism
|July 26, 2021
Summary
Circular RNA circPTK2 is upregulated in cancer cachexia, promoting fat loss by inhibiting adipogenesis and enhancing lipolysis. This study identifies circPTK2 as a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for this condition.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Cancer-associated cachexia involves skeletal muscle wasting and fat depletion.
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) regulate lipid metabolism, but their role in cachexia is unclear.
- Identifying cachexia-specific circRNAs is crucial for understanding and treating the condition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify circRNAs upregulated in adipose tissue of cachectic patients.
- To investigate the function and mechanism of identified circRNAs in lipid metabolism.
- To explore circPTK2 as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for cancer cachexia.
Main Methods:
- Whole transcriptome RNA sequencing to screen for differentially expressed circRNAs.
- Quantitative reverse transcription PCR to validate circPTK2 expression.
- In vitro and in vivo experiments to assess circPTK2's effects on lipolysis and adipogenesis.
- Mechanistic studies including luciferase reporter assays and RNA immunoprecipitation to elucidate molecular interactions.
Main Results:
- Identified 66 differentially expressed circRNA candidates, with circPTK2 significantly upregulated in cachectic adipose tissue.
- circPTK2 acts as a diagnostic marker for cachexia.
- circPTK2 promotes lipolysis and inhibits adipogenesis by sponging miR-182-5p, thereby upregulating JAZF1.
- In vivo studies confirmed circPTK2's role in modulating adipogenesis and lipolysis.
Conclusions:
- circPTK2 plays a novel role in promoting lipolysis and reducing adipogenesis through a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism.
- circPTK2 represents a potential diagnostic biomarker for cancer-associated cachexia.
- circPTK2 emerges as a promising therapeutic target for managing cancer cachexia.
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