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Anorexia of infection: current prospects
1Institute of Animal Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland. wolfgang.langhans@inw.agrl.ethz.ch
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)
|October 31, 2000
Summary
Infection-induced anorexia, initially protective, becomes detrimental long-term. Microbial products and cytokines trigger this response, involving complex central nervous system pathways and neurochemicals, suggesting targeted therapies.
Area of Science:
- Infectious disease
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
Background:
- Infection-induced anorexia is part of the acute phase response (APR).
- While initially beneficial, prolonged anorexia hinders recovery.
- Microbial products and proinflammatory cytokines mediate this response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying infection-induced anorexia.
- To identify the roles of microbial products, cytokines, and central mediators.
- To explore potential therapeutic targets.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on infection-induced anorexia.
- Analysis of pathways involving microbial products, cytokines, and the central nervous system (CNS).
- Identification of key neurochemicals involved in feeding regulation.
Main Results:
- Microbial products and cytokines stimulate anorexia through peripheral and central mechanisms.
- Cytokines influence leptin expression and can act on the CNS.
- Neurochemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and neuropeptide Y are central mediators.
- A complex network of cytokine-cytokine and cytokine-neurochemical interactions exists.
Conclusions:
- Targeting common cytokine pathways or neurochemical mediators offers therapeutic potential.
- Further research is needed on neurochemical mechanisms and blood-brain barrier interactions.
- Factors like gender and nutritional state may modulate anorexia during infection.