Cancer and neuro-immune axis
10.3777/jjsam.57.613
- VernacularTitle:癌と神経・免疫
- Author:
Hiromi IWAGAKI
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
cancer cachexia;
dopamine;
serotonin;
histamine;
IL-6;
GM-CSF
- From:Journal of the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion
2007;57(5):613-620
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Patients with cancer cachexia often suffer from psychiatric disorders, severe nausea and vomiting. In the present study, we investigated the changes in monoaminergic activities in the brain in tumor-bearing mice (cachectic clone 20). The dopamine turnover rate in clone-20 mice was decreased markedly, and in contrast, the serotonin and histamine turnover rates were significantly increased. It is concluded that some of the psychiatric disorders in cachectic patients might be ascribable to changes in monoaminergic activities in the brain. The serotonin content of the small intestine in clone-20 mice increased significantly; this was associated with an increase in tryptophan hydroxylase activity. In addition, the increase in histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity in the spleen occurred in clone 20 mice, and this histamine metabolism might modify the immune status in cancer-burden patients. Serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were significantly elevated in clone 20 mice, and these increased inflammatory cytokines might be partly responsible for the changes of monoamine turnover in the brain, in the gut and in the spleen.
