Myokines as Possible Therapeutic Targets in Cancer Cachexia

Table 1

The most studied myokines and their action mode in skeletal muscular tissue.

Myokine	Action	Level after muscle exercise
Myostatin	Stops myoblast proliferation; Suppresses satellite cell activation; Induces muscle atrophy	Lower level
Irisin	Activates genes related to oxidative metabolism; Induces muscle hypertrophy; Improves muscle strength; Reduces necrosis	High level
Myonectin	Induces nutrient uptake; Induces nutrient storage in adipose tissue	High level especially in muscle, less in circulation
Decorin	Acts antagonistically with myostatin; Involved in restructuring muscle	High level
FGF21	Induces glucose uptake; Increases mitochondrial activity; Connected with adiponectin; Implied in the control of lipid homeostasis, energetic metabolism, and insulin sensitivity	High level
IL-6	Increases glucose uptake, oxidation of fatty acids; Increases insulin secretion; Elevated in cancer cachexia—low level; Alleviate cachexia progress	High level
IL-8	Elevated in cancer cachexia, especially like cytokine; Induces angiogenesis	High level in muscle, not in plasma
IL-15	Anabolic effect; Decreases muscle protein degradation; Reduces fat mass; Induces muscle hypertrophy; Increases mitochondrial activity	High level