Neurobiology of inflammation-associated anorexia

Cytokines play a key role in mediating inflammation-associated anorexia. Compelling data demonstrate that cytokines can stimulate the activity of the peripheral nervous system and induce de novo synthesis of pro-inflammatory factors in the brain. It results in the stimulation of a specific neural circuit that reduces food intake. The melanocortinergic pathway tightly regulates the activity of this neural circuit upon humoral and environmental changes. Identifying the mechanisms underlying inflammation-associated anorexia is a true challenge geared toward the fight against loss of appetite in cancer patients.