Tumor necrosis factor-beta induces sleep, fever, and anorexia

The enhanced sleep, fever, and anorexia experienced during general infections are attributed to the increased production of cytokines. Cytokines such as interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) have characteristic somnogenic, pyrogenic, and anorectic effects. TNF-beta is closely related to TNF-alpha, and they share common receptors. The effects of TNF-beta on sleep-wake activity, brain temperature (Tbr), and food intake were, however, heretofore unknown. We injected 0.5-200 ng TNF-beta into rabbits intracerebroventricularly (icv) in the light period, and the electroencephalogram, movement, and Tbr were recorded for 6 h from rabbits. The highest dose, 200 ng TNF-beta, induced increases in non-rapid-eye-movement sleep and decreases in rapid-eye-movement sleep accompanied with biphasic febrile responses. Icv injection of 100 ng TNF-beta at dark onset suppressed 12-h and 24-h food intake in rats. These data suggest to us that TNF-beta may belong to the group of endogenous pyrogens/sleep factors.