Endotoxin-induced changes in food consumption in healthy volunteers are associated with TNF-alpha and IL-6 secretion.
This study examined the effects of endotoxin administration on food and water consumption in humans, and the associations between these changes and endotoxin-induced secretion of cytokines, cortisol, and fever. Twenty healthy male volunteers received an i.v. injection of Salmonella abortus equi endotoxin (0.8 ng/kg) or saline in two experimental sessions. Blood samples were collected hourly, and rectal temperature was monitored continuously. Food consumption was significantly reduced at 0-4 h and significantly elevated at 4-5 h after the endotoxin injection. Endotoxin administration had no significant effect on water consumption. Endotoxin-induced secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-6 was positively associated with the decrease in food consumption (r=0.61 and 0.68), and negatively associated with the rebound increase in food consumption (r=-0.53 and -0.45). Neither the febrile response, nor the secretion of cortisol was associated with the changes in food consumption. These results suggest that TNF-alpha and IL-6 are involved in endotoxin-induced anorexia in humans.
Reichenberg
A
A
Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem 91905, Israel.
Kraus
T
T
Haack
M
M
Schuld
A
A
Pollmächer
T
T
Yirmiya
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology; D001831:Body Temperature; D004326:Drinking; D004435:Eating; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005334:Fever; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D004731:Endotoxins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D006854:Hydrocortisone