Astaxanthin Supplementation Assists Sorafenib in Slowing Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in H22 Tumor-Bearing Mice via Reversing Abnormal Glucose Metabolism.

Abstract

SCOPE:

Cachexia, which is often marked by skeletal muscular atrophy, is one of the leading causes of death in cancer patients. Astaxanthin, a carotenoid obtained from marine organisms that can aid in the prevention and treatment of a variety of disorders. In this study, to assess whether astaxanthin ameliorates weight loss and skeletal muscle atrophy in sorafenib-treated hepatocellular carcinoma mice is aimed.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

H22 mice are treated with 30 mg kg-1  day-1 of sorafenib and 60 mg kg-1  day-1 of astaxanthin by gavage lasted for 18 days. Sorafenib does not delay skeletal muscle atrophy and weight loss, although it does not reduce tumor burden. Astaxanthin dramatically delays weight loss and skeletal muscle atrophy in sorafenib-treating mice, without affecting the food intake. Astaxanthin inhibits the tumor glycolysis, slows down gluconeogenesis, and improves insulin resistance in tumor-bearing mice. Astaxanthin increases glucose competition in skeletal muscle by targeting the PI3K/Akt/GLUT4 signaling pathway, and enhances glucose utilization efficiency in skeletal muscle, thereby slowing skeletal muscle atrophy.

CONCLUSION:

The findings show the significant potential of astaxanthin as nutritional supplements for cancer patients, as well as the notion that nutritional interventions should be implemented at the initiation of cancer treatment, as instead of waiting until cachexia sets in.

• Authors: Pengfei Ren, Xinyue Yu, Qingjuan Tang, Yuchen Huan, Jie Xu, Yuming Wang, Changhu Xue
• Journal: Molecular nutrition & food research (Mol Nutr Food Res) Vol. 67 Issue 16 Pg. e2300076 (08 2023) ISSN: 1613-4133 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 37177891 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.

Chemical References

• Sorafenib
• Glucose
• astaxanthine
• Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases

Topics

• Mice
• Animals
• Cachexia (drug therapy, etiology)
• Sorafenib (pharmacology, metabolism)
• Glucose (metabolism)
• Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases (metabolism)
• Muscular Atrophy (drug therapy, etiology, metabolism)
• Muscle, Skeletal (metabolism)
• Weight Loss
• Dietary Supplements