α-Tocopherol attenuates NFκB activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in brain and improves recovery from lipopolysaccharide-induced sickness behavior

This study was conducted to determine if alpha-tocopherol facilitates recovery from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sickness behavior through a NF kappa B-dependent mechanism. In the first study, 3 daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of a-tocopherol (20 mg) improved recovery from sickness behavior induced by i.p. injected LPS. Furthermore, alpha-tocopherol pretreatment attenuated LPS-activated NF kappa B and proinflammatory cytokine production in brain. In addition, inhibiting NF kappa B activity in the brain specifically by ICV injection of a NF kappa B decoy prior to LPS, significantly accelerated recovery from LPS-induced sickness behavior. Taken together, these data indicate alpha-tocopherol modulates sickness behavior and inflammatory cytokine production in the brain through an NF kappa B-dependent pathway. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.