Curcumin and Resveratrol Improve Muscle Function and Structure through Attenuation of Proteolytic Markers in Experimental Cancer-Induced Cachexia.

Muscle wasting and cachexia are prominent comorbidities in cancer. Treatment with polyphenolic compounds may partly revert muscle wasting. We hypothesized that treatment with curcumin or resveratrol in cancer cachectic mice may improve muscle phenotype and total body weight through attenuation of several proteolytic and signaling mechanisms in limb muscles. In gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of cancer cachectic mice (LP07 adenocarcinoma cells, N = 10/group): (1) LC-induced cachexia, (2) LC-cachexia+curcumin, and (3) LC-cachexia + resveratrol, muscle structure and damage (including blood troponin I), sirtuin-1, proteolytic markers, and signaling pathways (NF-κB and FoxO3) were explored (immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting). Compared to nontreated cachectic mice, in LC-cachexia + curcumin and LC-cachexia + resveratrol groups, body and muscle weights (gastrocnemius), limb muscle strength, muscle damage, and myofiber cross-sectional area improved, and in both muscles, sirtuin-1 increased, while proteolysis (troponin I), proteolytic markers, and signaling pathways were attenuated. Curcumin and resveratrol elicited beneficial effects on fast- and slow-twitch limb muscle phenotypes in cachectic mice through sirtuin-1 activation, attenuation of atrophy signaling pathways, and proteolysis in cancer cachectic mice. These findings have future therapeutic implications as these natural compounds, separately or in combination, may be used in clinical settings of muscle mass loss and dysfunction including cancer cachexia.

Beneficial Effects of Resveratrol in Mouse Gastrocnemius: A Hint to Muscle Phenotype and Proteolysis.

We hypothesized that the phenolic compound resveratrol mitigates muscle protein degradation and loss and improves muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) in gastrocnemius of mice exposed to unloading (7dI). In gastrocnemius of mice (female C57BL/6J, 10 weeks) exposed to a seven-day period of hindlimb immobilization with/without resveratrol treatment, markers of muscle proteolysis (tyrosine release, systemic troponin-I), atrophy signaling pathways, and muscle phenotypic features and function were analyzed. In gastrocnemius of unloaded mice treated with resveratrol, body and muscle weight and function were attenuated, whereas muscle proteolysis (tyrosine release), proteolytic and apoptotic markers, atrophy signaling pathways, and myofiber CSA significantly improved. Resveratrol treatment of mice exposed to a seven-day period of unloading prevented body and muscle weight and limb strength loss, while an improvement in muscle proteolysis, proteolytic markers, atrophy signaling pathways, apoptosis, and muscle fiber CSA was observed in the gastrocnemius muscle. These findings may have potential therapeutic implications in the management of disuse muscle atrophy in clinical settings.

Pharmacological Approaches in an Experimental Model of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Effects on Tumor Biology.

Lung cancer (LC) remains the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, and non-small cell LC (NSCLC) represents 80% of all LC. Oxidative stress and inflammation, autophagy, ubiquitin-proteasome system, nuclear factor (NF)-κB, and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) participate in LC pathophysiology. Currently available treatment for LC is limited and in vivo models are lacking. We hypothesized that antioxidants and NF- κB, MAPK, and proteasome inhibitors may exert an antitumoral response through attenuation of several key biological mechanisms that promote tumorigenesis and cancer cell growth. Body and tumor weights, oxidative stress, antioxidants, inflammation, NF-κB p65 expression, fibulins, apoptosis, autophagy, tumor and stroma histology were evaluated in the subcutaneous tumor of LC (LP07 adenocarcinoma) BALB/c mice, with and without concomitant treatment with NF-κB (sulfasalazine), MEK (U0126), and proteasome (bortezomib) inhibitors, and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). Compared to LC control mice, in subcutanous tumors, the four pharmacological agents reduced oxidative stress markers and tumor proliferation (ki-67). Inflammation and NF-κB p65 expression were attenuated by NF-κB and MAPK inhibitors, and the latter also enhanced apoptotic markers. Catalase was induced by the three inhibitors, while bortezomib also promoted superoxide dismutase expression. NF-κB and MEK inhibitors significantly reduced tumor burden through several biological mechanisms that favored tumor degradation and attenuated tumor proliferation. These two pharmacological agents may enhance the anti-tumor activity of selectively targeted therapeutic strategies for LC. Proteasomal inhibition using bortezomib rather promotes tumor degradation, while treatment with antioxidants cannot be recommended. This experimental model supports the use of adjuvant drugs for the improvement of LC treatment.