Silybin as an anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic agent in cancer cachexia

慢性疾病(如癌症)中的无意体重减轻(恶病质)会导致 生活质量下降，对治疗缺乏反应，最终死亡。癌症恶病质是 以全身炎症、肌肉和脂肪减少以及身体机能减退为特征。组织 在癌症恶病质患者中观察到纤维化或疤痕形成。肌肉纤维化是最严重的 在因肌肉疾病、神经肌肉疾病而导致肌肉功能减退的人中发现一致的结果 精神紊乱、创伤和骨质疏松症。阻断恶病质前期和恶病质的炎症和纤维化 运动阶段对于积极影响肌肉健康、运动能力和运动能力至关重要。水飞蓟宾，一位 药用植物水飞蓟的活性成分具有抗炎和抗纤维化作用 心脏和肝脏疾病的特性。由于目前还没有被批准的癌症恶病质治疗方法， 水飞蓟宾一直与改善恶病质相关因素有关，我们建议评估 水飞蓟宾可减少骨骼肌纤维化。此外，我们将确定转化生长因子-􀈕是否参与启动或 维持肌肉质量和功能的丧失。我们的发现可能导致发现一种新的 预防和/或治疗恶病质的机制和新策略。

Unintentional body weight loss (cachexia) in chronic diseases, such as cancer can lead to the deterioration of quality of life, lack of response to treatment, and ultimately death. Cancer cachexia is characterized by systemic inflammation, muscle and fat loss, and reduced physical function. Tissue fibrosis or scarring has been observed in cancer cachectic patients. Muscle fibrosis is one of the most consistent findings among people with reduced muscle function due to myopathies, neuromuscular disorders, trauma, and sarcopenia. Blocking inflammation and fibrosis in the pre-cachectic and cachectic stages is critical to positively impact muscle health, locomotion, and performance. Silybin, one of the active compounds of the medicinal plant Silybum marianum has shown anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties in cardiac and liver disorders. Since there are no approved therapies for cancer cachexia and silybin has been associated to improve factors associated with cachexia, we propose to assess whether silybin reduces skeletal muscle fibrosis. Furthermore, we will determine if TGF-􀈕 is involved in initiating or maintaining loss of muscle mass and function. Our findings could lead to the discovery of a new mechanism and novel strategies to prevent and/or treat cachexia.