895-The Neural Hub of Sickness Behavior
This research identifies a specific group of inhibitory neurons in the ventral medial preoptic area (VMPO) of the hypothalamus that acts as a central hub for managing sickness symptoms. These neurons are activated by immune signals like prostaglandins and cytokines released from nearby non-neuronal cells, such as astrocytes and ependymal cells, during infection. When these VMPOLPS neurons are triggered, they orchestrate essential survival responses including fever induction, warmth-seeking behavior, and appetite suppression. Conversely, removing these cells prevents mice from developing a…
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