Fig. 3

TGFβ and Myofibroblast presence contributes to adipose tissue fibrosis in cancer cachexia. a Immunohistochemistry for myofibroblasts with αSMA antibody. Note that almost immunoreactivity in WSC is in vessel walls, whereas CC shows positive cells among adipocytes and in (F) fibrotic areas. b-c TGFβ immunohistochemical analysis in subcutaneous AT illustrates its possible role in inducing cachexia-associated fibrosis, whereas (c) Smad4 shows activation of this pathway. Counterstaining (blue) with Mayer’s Haematoxylin was performed. The groups were identified as Control (n = 5), Weight-stable cancer (WSC; n = 5), Cancer cachexia (CC; n = 5). Fibrotic areas are indicated (F). Arrows indicate positive labeling. d-f qPCR analysis of fibroblast marker (d) FSP1 (S100A4) (control, n = 13; WSC n = 6; CC n = 12), (e) Smad3 (control, n = 9; WSC n = 6; CC n = 7), and (f) Smad4 (control, n = 11; WSC n = 7; CC n = 12). Data presented as median and 1st and 3st quartile. *p < 0.05 CC vs control; # WSC vs control