Immunobiological actions of adipokines in experimental murine model of melanoma.

Abstract

There is a strong correlation between obesity and cancer associated with increasing obesity epidemic has led to a increase in the number of new cases. Obesity commonly carries a dysregulated production of adipokines, bioactive proteins secreted primarily by adipocytes, which induces its biological effects by binding to cognate receptors. Classically, the main role of adipokines is to assist in the maintenance of metabolic homeostasis, however, other roles have shown relate to its ability to modulate inflammation, angiogenesis, proliferation and apoptosis. Aware of the role of adipokines in these processes, a role for adipokines in the progression and metastasis of cancer became apparent. Most studies related to cancer in vitro and in vivo, has focused on the ability of adipokines in affecting tumor markers typical of the process including proliferation, evasion of apoptosis, cell migration and tumor invasion, stimulation of angiogenesis and evasion of the immune system . However, there is no consensus in the literature regarding the activity of various adipokines, which often have opposing biological effects on the immune response specific to different types of tumors, included melanoma. Thus, through this work we propose to investigate the role of obesity and specifically of adipokines, leptin and adiponectin, in the process of tumor growth and lung colonization capacity, highlighting the role in the modulation of antitumor immune response.