concanavalin-a and pyranoprofen

In infectious diseases and during inflammation, anorexia, loss of body weight, malaise, fatigue and depression are induced. These symptoms are correctively called 'sickness behaviors', and the central actions of cytokines play a role in their induction. The loss of body weight in cancer cachexia is also a result of development of sickness behaviors. It has been reported that the administration of NSAID ibuprofen to patients with cancer cachexia improves the loss in body weight. We studied the effect of NSAID on the loss of body weight by using rodent sickness behavior models. We have reported that sickness behaviors such as anorexia, decrease in body weight, and loss of locomotor activity are induced in concanavalin A (Con A)-induced mouse hepatitis and carbon tetrachloride-induced rat hepatitis. Zaltoprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) causes potent inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 with fewer side effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Zaltoprofen improves the loss in body weight in both Con A-treated mice and carbon tetrachloride-treated rats. These results suggest the possible application of zaltoprofen for the treatment of sickness behaviors including loss of body weight occurring in cancer cachexia.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Benzopyrans; Body Weight; Carbon Tetrachloride; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Concanavalin A; Mice; Propionates; Wasting Syndrome

Treatment of mice with concanavalin A (Con A) (12.5 mg/kg, i.v.) decreased the body weight at 24 h. This Con A-induced body weight decrease was accompanied by reduction in food and water intake. Zaltoprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The administration of Zaltoprofen (10 mg/kg) at 8 h after Con A treatment was found to inhibit the Con A-induced reduction in body weight. The food intake in mice treated with Con A plus Zaltoprofen (10 mg/kg) was four times greater than that in mice treated with only Con A. The present results showed inhibition of the Con A-induced body weight loss by Zaltoprofen and suggested its possible effectiveness for the treatment of "sickness behavior".

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Benzopyrans; Body Weight; Concanavalin A; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drinking; Eating; Female; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Propionates; Weight Loss