Significantly enhanced lung metastasis and reduced organ NK cell functions in diet-induced obese rats.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Obesity was identified as a major risk factor for malignant diseases, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Natural killer (NK) cells, a pivotal aspect of innate immunity, are capable of identifying and killing virally infected and tumor cells. Previous studies have shown altered NK cell functions in obesity, and the current study aimed to investigate the relationship between altered NK cell functions and increased cancer risk in obesity.

Methods

To induce obesity male F344-rats received a high-fat diet (34% fat) or a control diet (4% fat). Thereafter, syngeneic mammary adenocarcinoma cells (MADB106) or a vehicle were intravenously (i.v.) injected. 15 min after injection, half of each group of rats were killed, lungs removed and immunohistochemically stained.

SUBMITTER: Spielmann J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5496225 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature