{
  "id": 3059314,
  "title": "Systemic endotoxemia induces integrated sickness physiology in female BALB/c mice",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/systemic-endotoxemia-induces-integrated-sickness-physiology-in-female",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-24T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.22.746462v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Systemic endotoxemia, triggered by the immune response to an inflammatory substance called lipopolysaccharide (LPS), leads to a coordinated sickness state in female BALB/c mice. The study investigates the immune, metabolic, neural, and behavioral components of this response, comparing it to previous research on male C57BL/6 mice. Upon intraperitoneal administration of moderate LPS doses, female BALB/c mice exhibited rapid loss of resident peritoneal macrophages, followed by neutrophil accumulation and heightened levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF- and IL-6. Hepatic tissues showed alterations in inflammatory, acute-phase, and anti-inflammatory gene expressions, along with reduced glutathione levels and unchanged superoxide dismutase activity. Peripheral responses were followed by transient hypothermia, decreased food intake, and subsequent weight loss. Brain mapping revealed increased c-Fos labeling in specific brain regions, including the area postrema, nucleus of the solitary tract, external lateral parabrachial nucleus, paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, and arcuate nucleus. Neuronal and microglial responses were region-specific, with increased IBA1-positive cells observed in the median eminence and arcuate nucleus. Behaviorally, LPS induced reduced locomotion and exploration, heightened freezing, and increased immobility during forced swimming. Changes in spatial exploration were most prominent during the acute phase, while suppression of locomotor activity and passive stress-coping strategies persisted longer, varying in intensity based on the timing of the inflammatory challenge. These findings demonstrate that systemic LPS induces a unified sickness state in female BALB/c mice, linking peripheral inflammation and hepatic metabolic and redox changes with distinct neuronal and microglial reactions, altered thermoregulation and feeding patterns, and behavioral suppression.",
  "summary": "Sickness is an organismal response to inflammation, yet its immune, metabolic, neural, and behavioral components are often studied separately and predominantly in male C57BL/6 mice. In this study, we characterized these responses to systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in female BALB/c mice. Mice received intraperitoneal LPS at moderate concentrations and outcomes were assessed during the acute and…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}