Here, Mak and colleagues shed light on the molecules associated with acidosis and inflammation that contribute to the development of nutritional abnormalities in patients with end-stage renal disease. Targeting these hormones, which act on the hypothalamic melanocortin system, ameliorates experimental cachexia. Using these new insights as the basis for developing human therapies should help to reduce cachexia-related mortality in the uremic population.
- Robert H Mak
- Wai Cheung
- Daniel L Marks
