During the inflammatory response, what type of substances are produced that can affect appetite?

During the inflammatory response, cytokines are produced and play a significant role in regulating various physiological processes, including appetite. Cytokines are a broad category of signaling molecules that mediate and regulate immunity, inflammation, and hematopoiesis.

Some cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), can lead to changes in appetite by influencing the brain's hunger-regulating centers. These substances can signal the brain to decrease appetite as part of a protective mechanism during inflammation, ensuring that the body focuses its energy on fighting off infections or healing rather than on food intake.

Although interferons, interleukins, and glucocorticoids also play roles in the immune response and can influence metabolism, they do not specifically target appetite regulation in the same manner as cytokines do. Interferons are primarily involved in antiviral responses, interleukins are a subcategory of cytokines with broader functions but do not encompass the full range of molecules impacting appetite regulation, and glucocorticoids often play a role in stress responses rather than acute inflammatory responses. Thus, cytokines are the most directly linked to the modulation of appetite during inflammation.