Fig. 4

TGFβ pathway is activated in the fibrotic subcutaneous AT in cancer cachexia. a-c Multiplex assay analysis of activated (a) TGFβ1, (b) TGFβ2, and (c) TGFβ3 in whole subcutaneous AT. Control (n = 14), Weight-stable cancer (WSC) (n = 12), Cancer cachexia (CC) (n = 14). d-f Adipocytes also contribute for the enhanced observed TGFβ levels, as shown by Multiplex analysis of (a) TGFβ1, (b) TGFβ2, and (c) TGFβ3 from isolated adipocytes of subcutaneous AT. Control (n = 5), Weight-stable cancer (WSC) (n = 5), Cancer cachexia (CC) (n = 5). Data presented as median and 1st and 3st quartile. *p < 0.05, CC vs control; ***p < 0.003 CC vs control. g Immunofluorescence staining in subcutaneous AT for Smad3 (red) and DAPI (blue) for nuclei, which showed higher density for Smad3 labeling in cancer cachexia. Control (n = 5), Weight-stable cancer (WSC; n = 5), Cancer cachexia (CC; n = 5)