Figure 5. Inhibition of IL-6 signaling attenuates the progression of cachexia independent of changes in protein synthesis.

Wild type and Apc^Min/+ mice were given an IL-6 receptor antibody or PBS control at 16 weeks of age and sacrificed at 18 weeks. A) Experimental design showing administration schedule and time line of IL-6 receptor antibody or PBS treatment. B) Percentage body weight change from peak body weight to sacrifice weight. C) Polyp distribution presented in percentage of total tumors. D) Representative western blot of phosphorylated and total forms of Stat3 and total SOC3 protein expression. E) Gastrocnemius weight and F) muscle protein synthesis measured at sacrifice. G) IGF-1 gene expression in the gastrocnemius muscle. H) Upper: Representative western blots of phosphorylated and total forms of Akt, mTOR, p70S6K, and 4E-BP1. Lower: The ratio of phosphorylated to total form of the given protein normalized to PBS treated wild-type mice. Values are means ± SE. Significance was set at p<0.05. *Signifies difference within treatment. † Signifies difference within genotype. # Signifies main effect of genotype. & Signifies difference in polyps 1–2 mm. $ Signifies difference between polyps >2 mm.