A central role for the mammalian target of rapamycin in LPS-induced anorexia in mice

Abstract

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), also known as endotoxin, induces profound anorexia. However, the LPS-provoked pro-inflammatory signaling cascades and the neural mechanisms underlying the development of anorexia are not clear. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a key regulator of metabolism, cell growth, and protein synthesis. This study aimed to determine whether the mTOR pathway is involved in LPS-induced anorexia. Effects of LPS on hypothalamic gene/protein expression in mice were measured by RT-PCR or western blotting analysis. To determine whether inhibition of mTOR signaling could attenuate LPS-induced anorexia, we administered an i.c.v. injection of rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, on LPS-treated male mice. In this study, we showed that LPS stimulates the mTOR signaling pathway through the enhanced phosphorylation of mTORSer2448 and p70S6KThr389. We also showed that LPS administration increased the phosphorylation of FOXO1Ser256, the p65 subunit of nuclear factor kappa B (P < 0.05), and FOXO1/3aThr24/32 (P < 0.01). Blocking the mTOR pathway significantly attenuated the LPS-induced anorexia by decreasing the phosphorylation of p70S6KThr389, FOXO1Ser256, and FOXO1/3aThr24/32. These results suggest promising approaches for the prevention and treatment of LPS-induced anorexia.