Synergy between tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-1 in the induction of sickness behavior in mice

R. M. Bluthé, M. Pawlowski, S. Suarez, P. Parnet, Q. Pittman, K. W. Kelley, R. Dantzer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

180 Scopus citations

Abstract

Like interleukin-1, recombinant human tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) has been found to decrease social exploration and induce weight loss in mice in a dose and time-dependent manner. The present study was carried out to study the interaction between these two cytokines. Mice were injected IP with subthreshold doses of TNFα (2.5 μg/mouse) and IL-1β (50 ng/mouse). Social exploration was decreased 2 and 4 h after injection of TNF and IL-1, but body weight was not affected. Subthreshold doses of TNFα (90 ng/mouse) and IL-1β (100 pg/mouse) were also injected intracerebroventricularly (ICV). Social exploration was decreased 1.5 and 3 h after injections of the two cytokines and body weight was decreased for 6 h. To test the possibility of central induction of IL-1 by TNFα, mice pretreated with IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra, 1.8 μg/mouse, ICV) were injected with 90 ng TNFα. Pretreatment with IL-1ra antagonized the depressive effect of TNFα on behavior, but had no effect on weight loss induced by this cytokine. These results suggest that TNFα-induced behavioral alterations are mediated by endogenously released IL-1, whereas metabolic changes are dependent on the release of other cytokines.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)197-207
Number of pages11
JournalPsychoneuroendocrinology
Volume19
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1994
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Endocrinology
  • Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Biological Psychiatry

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