Peripherally injected IL-1 induces anorexia and increases brain tryptophan concentrations

Interleukin-1 is an anorexigenic cytokine, and is involved in the pathogenesis of cancer anorexia. Interleukin-1 induced anorexia is mediated by direct action within the hypothalamus, and by peripheral mechanism(s) yet to be determined. Here we present evidence showing that in an animal model the peripheral injection of interleukin-1 is followed by a significant rise in brain tryptophan concentrations. Tryptophan is the precursor of the neurotransmitter serotonin, known to mediate the onset of satiety under normal and pathological conditions. By inference, we conclude that interleukin-1 induced anorexia is mediated by at least two different mechanism: i) interleukin-1 direct action within the hypothalamus; ii) increased brain serotonergic activity, secondary to interleukin-1 induced increased brain availability of the serotonin precursor, tryptophan.