Tumor necrosis factor-α-induced sickness behavior is impaired by central administration of an inhibitor of c-jun N-terminal kinase

Rationale Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) acts within the brain to induce sickness behavior, but the molecular mechanisms are still unknown. TNF alpha binding induces receptor trimerization, activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and induction of downstream transcription factors. Objectives We hypothesized that TNF alpha-induced sickness behavior can be blocked by a novel JNK inhibitor. Methods To test this idea, we used a bipartite protein consisting of a ten-amino-acid sequence of the trans-activating domain of the viral TAT protein (D-TAT) linked to a 19-amino-acid peptide that specifically inhibits JNK activation (D-JNKI-1). C57BL/6J mice were pre-treated intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) with D-JNKI-1 or the control peptide containing only the protein transduction domain, D-TAT. Mice were then injected centrally with an optimal amount of TNF alpha (50 ng/mouse) to induce sickness behavior. Sickness was assessed as a decrease in social exploration of a novel juvenile, an increase in duration of immobility and loss of body weight. Results Pre-treatment with D-JNKI-1 (10 ng/mouse), but not D-TAT, significantly inhibited all three indices of sickness induced by central TNF alpha. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that D-JNKI-1 can abrogate TNF alpha-induced sickness behavior and suggest a potential therapeutic target for treating major depressive disorders that develop on a background of cytokine-induced sickness behavior.