Characterization of microglia in cachectic tumor-bearing rats

• Grant number: 18/13395-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2018
• End date: September 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Metabolism and Bioenergetics
• Principal Investigator: Marilia Cerqueira Leite Seelaender
• Grantee: Larissa Santana Lemos
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cancer Cachexia is defined as a multifactorial syndrome that involves functional, metabolic and immune disorders leading to loss of skeletal muscle mass and systemic inflammation. It is a syndrome that present symptoms such as, fatigue, anorexia, anemia and asthenia. Furthermore, Cancer cachexia decrease the energy consumption because of the loss of appetite, and increase the amount of energy consumed by the body at rest, resulting in an altered metabolism and inflammation. Thus, the central nervous system (CNS) can play a key role in deflagration and progression of cachexia syndrome. However, little is known about the role of the CNS in the syndrome. The aim of this project is to analyze the CNS of rats with tumor that develops cachexia syndrome, particularly the immune cells, specially microglia and establish its possible connection with changes in body composition and food intake. The study will analyze 24 male rats Wistar with 8-10 weeks of age, randomly divided into 2 groups: control and AH-130 (tumor Yoshida AH-130). The experimental protocol will consist of characterizing and quantifying resident microglia and possible immune infiltration into the hypothalamus of the animals, through the technique of immunohistochemistry, with the prospect of elucidated possible changes related to cachexia syndrome.