HMGB-1, A DNA-BINDING PROTEIN WITH CYTOKINE ACTIVITY, INDUCES BRAIN TNF AND IL-6 PRODUCTION, AND MEDIATES ANOREXIA AND TASTE AVERSION

High-mobility group protein-1 (HMG-1 also termed HMGB-1), a DNA-binding protein, regulates gene transcription and stabilizes nucleosome formation. HMG-1 was recently implicated as a cytokine, because it is a late-acting mediator of endotoxin lethality that induces the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from monocytes. Here it is shown that administration of HMG-1 into the cerebral ventricles decreases food intake (food intake=4.6g/mouse in controls vs 1.6g/mouse after 1μg HMG-1 i.c.v.; P