1
|
VanderVeen BN, Cardaci TD, Bullard BM, Madden M, Li J, Velazquez KT, Kubinak JL, Fan D, Murphy EA. Involvement of the gut microbiota in cancer cachexia. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2024; 327:C661-C670. [PMID: 38981609 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00327.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cachexia, or the unintentional loss of body weight in patients with cancer, is a multiorgan and multifactorial syndrome with a complex and largely unknown etiology; however, metabolic dysfunction and inflammation remain hallmarks of cancer-associated wasting. Although cachexia manifests with muscle and adipose tissue loss, perturbations to the gastrointestinal tract may serve as the frontline for both impaired nutrient absorption and immune-activating gut dysbiosis. Investigations into the gut microbiota have exploded within the past two decades, demonstrating multiple gut-tissue axes; however, the link between adipose and skeletal muscle wasting and the gut microbiota with cancer is only beginning to be understood. Furthermore, the most used anticancer drugs (e.g. chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors) negatively impact gut homeostasis, potentially exacerbating wasting and contributing to poor patient outcomes and survival. In this review, we 1) highlight our current understanding of the microbial changes that occur with cachexia, 2) discuss how microbial changes may contribute to adipose and skeletal muscle wasting, and 3) outline study design considerations needed when examining the role of the microbiota in cancer-induced cachexia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon N VanderVeen
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine Columbia, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States
| | - Thomas D Cardaci
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine Columbia, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States
| | - Brooke M Bullard
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine Columbia, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States
| | - Michael Madden
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States
| | - Kandy T Velazquez
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine Columbia, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States
| | - Jason L Kubinak
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine Columbia, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States
| | - Daping Fan
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, South Carolina, United States
| | - E Angela Murphy
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine Columbia, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Van Hul M, Neyrinck AM, Everard A, Abot A, Bindels LB, Delzenne NM, Knauf C, Cani PD. Role of the intestinal microbiota in contributing to weight disorders and associated comorbidities. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024:e0004523. [PMID: 38940505 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00045-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYThe gut microbiota is a major factor contributing to the regulation of energy homeostasis and has been linked to both excessive body weight and accumulation of fat mass (i.e., overweight, obesity) or body weight loss, weakness, muscle atrophy, and fat depletion (i.e., cachexia). These syndromes are characterized by multiple metabolic dysfunctions including abnormal regulation of food reward and intake, energy storage, and low-grade inflammation. Given the increasing worldwide prevalence of obesity, cachexia, and associated metabolic disorders, novel therapeutic strategies are needed. Among the different mechanisms explaining how the gut microbiota is capable of influencing host metabolism and energy balance, numerous studies have investigated the complex interactions existing between nutrition, gut microbes, and their metabolites. In this review, we discuss how gut microbes and different microbiota-derived metabolites regulate host metabolism. We describe the role of the gut barrier function in the onset of inflammation in this context. We explore the importance of the gut-to-brain axis in the regulation of energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism but also the key role played by the liver. Finally, we present specific key examples of how using targeted approaches such as prebiotics and probiotics might affect specific metabolites, their signaling pathways, and their interactions with the host and reflect on the challenges to move from bench to bedside.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Van Hul
- UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group (MNUT), Brussels, Belgium
- Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and BIOtechnology (WELBIO), WELBIO department, WEL Research Institute, Wavre, Belgium
- NeuroMicrobiota, International Research Program (IRP) INSERM/UCLouvain, France/Belgium
| | - Audrey M Neyrinck
- UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group (MNUT), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Amandine Everard
- UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group (MNUT), Brussels, Belgium
- Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and BIOtechnology (WELBIO), WELBIO department, WEL Research Institute, Wavre, Belgium
| | | | - Laure B Bindels
- UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group (MNUT), Brussels, Belgium
- Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and BIOtechnology (WELBIO), WELBIO department, WEL Research Institute, Wavre, Belgium
| | - Nathalie M Delzenne
- UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group (MNUT), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Claude Knauf
- NeuroMicrobiota, International Research Program (IRP) INSERM/UCLouvain, France/Belgium
- INSERM U1220, Institut de Recherche en Santé Digestive (IRSD), Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, CHU Purpan, Toulouse, France
| | - Patrice D Cani
- UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group (MNUT), Brussels, Belgium
- Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and BIOtechnology (WELBIO), WELBIO department, WEL Research Institute, Wavre, Belgium
- NeuroMicrobiota, International Research Program (IRP) INSERM/UCLouvain, France/Belgium
- UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Brussels, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Neshan M, Tsilimigras DI, Han X, Zhu H, Pawlik TM. Molecular Mechanisms of Cachexia: A Review. Cells 2024; 13:252. [PMID: 38334644 PMCID: PMC10854699 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Cachexia is a condition characterized by substantial loss of body weight resulting from the depletion of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. A considerable fraction of patients with advanced cancer, particularly those who have been diagnosed with pancreatic or gastric cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, or leukemias, are impacted by this condition. This syndrome manifests at all stages of cancer and is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. It heightens the susceptibility to surgical complications, chemotherapy toxicity, functional impairments, breathing difficulties, and fatigue. The early detection of patients with cancer cachexia has the potential to enhance both their quality of life and overall survival rates. Regarding this matter, blood biomarkers, although helpful, possess certain limitations and do not exhibit universal application. Additionally, the available treatment options for cachexia are currently limited, and there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the underlying molecular pathways associated with this condition. Thus, this review aims to provide an overview of molecular mechanisms associated with cachexia and potential therapeutic targets for the development of effective treatments for this devastating condition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Neshan
- Department of General Surgery, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd 8915887857, Iran;
| | - Diamantis I. Tsilimigras
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (D.I.T.); (X.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Xu Han
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (D.I.T.); (X.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Hua Zhu
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (D.I.T.); (X.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Timothy M. Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (D.I.T.); (X.H.); (H.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|