The Effect of Cancer Cachexia and PDTC Treatments on Cardiac Protein Synthesis
School Name
Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Grade Level
12th Grade
Presentation Topic
Cell and Molecular Biology
Presentation Type
Mentored
Written Paper Award
2nd Place
Abstract
Cancer cachexia, a severe wasting disease, often accompanies the advanced stages of cancer. This experiment examined the impact of cachexia and Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on cardiac protein synthesis. PDTC increased protein synthesis and attenuated wasting in the liver and skeletal muscle in previous studies, but its impact on the heart has not been determined. Male B6 and Apc min/+ mice were randomly selected to either cage control or PDTC treatment at 16-18 weeks of age. The groups were injected with either PBS or PDTC daily. Following two weeks of treatment, tissues were snap frozen to be homogenized at a later date. Western blot analysis was used to determine cancer and PDTC’s effects on P70S6K, AKT (T308), and rPS6K protein expression. Cancer did not alter heart mass in weight stable mice and short-term PDTC treatment did not alter heart mass, Phospho-Akt expression, or P70S6K protein expression. Interestingly, PDTC increased Phospho-RpS6 levels. This is intriguing because Phospho-RpS6 is a downstream marker of protein synthesis, while levels of upstream markers that are found before the synthesis of protein were not increased. Future research is needed to determine whether PDTC altered inflammatory signaling in the heart and if PDTC has a different effect on mice with severe weight loss.
Recommended Citation
Rumfelt, William, "The Effect of Cancer Cachexia and PDTC Treatments on Cardiac Protein Synthesis" (2018). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 24.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2018/all/24
Location
Neville theater
Start Date
4-14-2018 9:15 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
The Effect of Cancer Cachexia and PDTC Treatments on Cardiac Protein Synthesis
Neville theater
Cancer cachexia, a severe wasting disease, often accompanies the advanced stages of cancer. This experiment examined the impact of cachexia and Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on cardiac protein synthesis. PDTC increased protein synthesis and attenuated wasting in the liver and skeletal muscle in previous studies, but its impact on the heart has not been determined. Male B6 and Apc min/+ mice were randomly selected to either cage control or PDTC treatment at 16-18 weeks of age. The groups were injected with either PBS or PDTC daily. Following two weeks of treatment, tissues were snap frozen to be homogenized at a later date. Western blot analysis was used to determine cancer and PDTC’s effects on P70S6K, AKT (T308), and rPS6K protein expression. Cancer did not alter heart mass in weight stable mice and short-term PDTC treatment did not alter heart mass, Phospho-Akt expression, or P70S6K protein expression. Interestingly, PDTC increased Phospho-RpS6 levels. This is intriguing because Phospho-RpS6 is a downstream marker of protein synthesis, while levels of upstream markers that are found before the synthesis of protein were not increased. Future research is needed to determine whether PDTC altered inflammatory signaling in the heart and if PDTC has a different effect on mice with severe weight loss.
