Mitochondrial antioxidant SkQ1 attenuates C26 cancer-induced muscle wasting in males and improves muscle contractility in female tumor-bearing mice
Stavroula Tsitkanou, Francielly Morena da Silva, Ana Regina Cabrera, Eleanor R. Schrems, Ruqaiza Muhyudin, Pieter J. Koopmans, Sabin Khadgi, Seongkyun Lim, Luca J. Delfinis, Tyrone A. Washington, Kevin A. Murach, Christopher G. R. Perry, Nicholas P. Greene
Abstract
Herein, we assess the efficacy of the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQ1 to mitigate cancer cachexia (CC) in both biological sexes. We demonstrate that SkQ1 administration attenuates muscle wasting induced by C26 tumors in male, but not female, mice. Conversely, we identify that in females, SkQ1 improves muscle contractility. These phenotypic adaptations to SkQ1 are aligned with respective responses in muscle protein synthesis, mitochondrial respiration, and mRNA content of protein turnover, as well as mitochondrial and calcium handling-related markers.