Alterations of anorectic cytokine levels from plasma and cerebrospinal fluid in idiopathic senile anorexia

https://doi.org/10.1016/0047-6374(93)90096-AGet rights and content

Abstract

Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of two well-known satiety cytokine peptides have been measured in elderly persons with idiopathic anorexia and normal weight healthy subjects in a similar age range. Plasma and CSF levels of tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNFα) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were assayed by commercially available kits. Elderly under-weight anorectic patients ancd significantly lower levels of TNFα but unchanged concentrations of IL-1β in both plasma and CSF when compared to controls. In addition to significantly lower levels of TNFα in CSF, we found a positive correlaton between the body mass index and CSF TNFα concentrations (r = 0.61, P < 0.05) in the anorectic group. CSF IL-1β concentrations showed a significant negative correlaton with plasma albumin levels in senile anorectics (r = −0.66, P < 0.05) but not in controls. On the basis of our findings, we conclude that a decrease in plasma and CSF TNFα concentrations could have beneficial effects for the primary anorexia of aging both at central level to offset anorexia and at peripheral sites decreasing tissue catabolism.

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