β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) attenuates muscle and body weight loss in experimental cancer cachexia

  • Authors:
    • Zaira Aversa
    • Andrea Bonetto
    • Paola Costelli
    • Valerio Giacomo Minero
    • Fabio Penna
    • Francesco Maria Baccino
    • Simone Lucia
    • Filippo Rossi Fanelli
    • Maurizio Muscaritoli
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 23, 2010     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2010.885
  • Pages: 713-720
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Abstract

β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), a leucine metabolite, improves muscle mass and function. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of HMB administration in an experimental in vivo model of cancer cachexia (CC). Wistar rats were randomized to receive standard or 4% HMB-enriched chow. Rats from both groups were randomized to receive an i.p. inoculum of AH-130 cells (TB). All rats were weighed and sacrificed at day 24. Liver, heart and muscles were dissected and weighed. The protein levels of p-p70S6k, p-eIf2α, p-mTOR and p-4-EB-P1 were evaluated by Western blotting on gastrocnemius muscle (GSN). As expected, the growth of the AH-130 ascites hepatoma induced significant carcass weight and GSN muscle loss. HMB treatment significantly increased GSN and heart weight in controls (p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). In HMB-treated TB, body weight was not lost but significantly (p=0.003) increased, and GSN loss was significantly (p=0.04) attenuated with respect to TB. Phosphorylated eIF2α markedly decreased in TB-rats vs. C. Feeding the HMB-enriched diet resulted in decreased p-eIF2α levels in control animals, while no changes could be observed in the TB group. Phosphorylated p70S6K and phosphorylated mTOR were markedly increased by HMB treatment in controls and further increased in TB. Phosphorylated 4-EB-P1 was markedly increased in TB but substantially unaffected by HMB treatment. Administration of HMB attenuates body weight and muscle loss in experimental CC. Increased phosphorylation of key anabolic molecules suggests that these actions are mediated by improved protein anabolism in muscle.

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March 2011
Volume 38 Issue 3

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Spandidos Publications style
Aversa Z, Bonetto A, Costelli P, Minero VG, Penna F, Baccino FM, Lucia S, Rossi Fanelli F and Muscaritoli M: β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) attenuates muscle and body weight loss in experimental cancer cachexia. Int J Oncol 38: 713-720, 2011.
APA
Aversa, Z., Bonetto, A., Costelli, P., Minero, V.G., Penna, F., Baccino, F.M. ... Muscaritoli, M. (2011). β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) attenuates muscle and body weight loss in experimental cancer cachexia. International Journal of Oncology, 38, 713-720. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2010.885
MLA
Aversa, Z., Bonetto, A., Costelli, P., Minero, V. G., Penna, F., Baccino, F. M., Lucia, S., Rossi Fanelli, F., Muscaritoli, M."β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) attenuates muscle and body weight loss in experimental cancer cachexia". International Journal of Oncology 38.3 (2011): 713-720.
Chicago
Aversa, Z., Bonetto, A., Costelli, P., Minero, V. G., Penna, F., Baccino, F. M., Lucia, S., Rossi Fanelli, F., Muscaritoli, M."β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) attenuates muscle and body weight loss in experimental cancer cachexia". International Journal of Oncology 38, no. 3 (2011): 713-720. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2010.885