Cited by 156Regulation of Appetite and ObesityNutrition and Health in AgingMuscle Physiology and Disorders

The central role of hypothalamic inflammation in the acute illness response and cachexia

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Burfeind, Kevin G., Michaelis, Katherine A., Marks, Daniel L.·2016·Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology

Abstract

When challenged with a variety of inflammatory threats, multiple systems across the body undergo physiological responses to promote defense and survival. The constellation of fever, anorexia, and fatigue is known as the acute illness response, and represents an adaptive behavioral and physiological reaction to stimuli such as infection. On the other end of the spectrum, cachexia is a deadly and clinically challenging syndrome involving anorexia, fatigue, and muscle wasting. Both of these processes are governed by inflammatory mediators including cytokines, chemokines, and immune cells. Though the effects of cachexia can be partially explained by direct effects of disease processes on wasting tissues, a growing body of evidence shows the central nervous system (CNS) also plays an essential mechanistic role in cachexia. In the context of inflammatory stress, the hypothalamus integrates signals from peripheral systems, which it translates into neuroendocrine perturbations, altered neuronal signaling, and global metabolic derangements. Therefore, we will discuss how hypothalamic inflammation is an essential driver of both the acute illness response and cachexia, and why this organ is uniquely equipped to generate and maintain chronic inflammation. First, we will focus on the role of the hypothalamus in acute responses to dietary and infectious stimuli. Next, we will discuss the role of cytokines in driving homeostatic disequilibrium, resulting in muscle wasting, anorexia, and weight loss. Finally, we will address mechanisms and mediators of chronic hypothalamic inflammation, including endothelial cells, chemokines, and peripheral leukocytes.

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  • The HPA axis can be stimulated by peripheral inflammatory responses to infection or trauma resulting in sympathetic activation of a positive feedback loop whereby hypothalamic inflammatory signaling drives and is sustained by local production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα.

    “The primary stress response axis, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, can be stimulated by peripheral inflammatory responses to infection or trauma resulting in the sympathetic activation of a positive feedback loop whereby hypothalamic inflammatory signaling drives and is sustained by local production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα10.”

    From Leveraging Prior Knowledge of Endocrine Immune Regulation in the Therapeutically-relevant Phenotyping of Women with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (2019) · cites this paper as [10]

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Authors
Burfeind, K. G., Michaelis, K. A., & Marks, D. L.
Affiliations
Oregon Health & Science University (US)
Corresponding author
Marks, Daniel L.
Venue
Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-06
Volume
54
Pages
42-52
ISSN
1084-9521 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2189988755
Cited by
156
References
165
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 6
FWCI
0.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Cancer Institute (R01CA184324)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
Keywords
hypothalamic inflammation, cachexia, fever, anorexia, fatigue, cytokines, chemokines, muscle atrophy, weight loss, chronic inflammation, neuroendocrine regulation, endothelial cells, peripheral blood leukocytes, infection, nutritional stress
MeSH terms
Animals, Cachexia, Humans, Hypothalamus, Inflammation, Models, Biological, Obesity, Muscle, Skeletal

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