A role for intestinal TLR4-driven inflammatory response during activity-based anorexia

Sci Rep. 2016 Oct 25:6:35813. doi: 10.1038/srep35813.

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation and altered gut microbiota. However, the molecular origin of the inflammation remains unknown. Toll-like receptors are key regulators of innate immune response and their activation seems also to be involved in the control of food intake. We used activity-based anorexia (ABA) model to investigate the role of TLR4 and its contribution in anorexia-associated low-grade inflammation. Here, we found that ABA affected early the intestinal inflammatory status and the hypothalamic response. Indeed, TLR4 was upregulated both on colonic epithelial cells and intestinal macrophages, leading to elevated downstream mucosal cytokine production. These mucosal changes occurred earlier than hypothalamic changes driving to increased levels of IL-1β and IL-1R1 as well as increased levels of plasma corticosterone. Paradoxically, TLR4-deficient mice exhibited greater vulnerability to ABA with increased mortality rate, suggesting a major contribution of TLR4-mediated responses during ABA-induced weight loss.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anorexia / metabolism
  • Anorexia / physiopathology*
  • Colon / metabolism
  • Colon / physiopathology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Gastroenteritis / immunology
  • Gastroenteritis / metabolism*
  • Hypothalamus / immunology
  • Hypothalamus / physiopathology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Signal Transduction
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism*
  • Weight Loss / genetics

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Tlr4 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4