Work

Embryonic sheep placenta alleviates muscle-fat wasting symptoms and improves gut microbiome dysbiosis in cachexia mice

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Cachexia is a multifactorial wasting syndrome characterized by muscle-fat depletion, accompanied by significant gut microbiome disturbances. Embryonic sheep placenta (ESP), a functional food known to modulate immunity and gut microbiome, represents a potential intervention substance. By in vitro and in vivo experiments combined with multi-omics analysis, this study provides experimental evidence for the effect of ESP on cachexia. These studies have found that ESP and its extract alleviate cachexia by increasing 91.80% ( P < 0.0001) muscle tube diameter, 19.56% ( P < 0.01) muscle cross-sectional area and 37.56% ( P < 0.05) fat mass. Western blot shows that ESP downregulates the expression of TRIM63 and inhibits the expression of the HSL protein in the AMPK signaling pathway. Integrated multi-omics analysis suggests that ESP reshapes the gut microbiota structure of cachexia mice, restores their gut homeostasis and improves energy metabolism pathways. In conclusion, ESP plays a protective role in cachexia mice by alleviating the symptoms of muscle-fat atrophy, maintaining gut homeostasis and improving energy metabolism pathway.

Source: Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2026.102590