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Hypothalamic Inflammation

Meaning

Hypothalamic inflammation is a state of low-grade, chronic activation of the innate immune response within the hypothalamus, a crucial brain region that governs energy balance, appetite, and neuroendocrine function. This inflammatory process involves the activation of glial cells, such as microglia and astrocytes, leading to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This pathology is clinically significant because it disrupts the hypothalamus’s sensitivity to key metabolic hormones like leptin and insulin, contributing to systemic metabolic dysregulation and weight gain. Addressing this central inflammatory state is a novel therapeutic target in metabolic health.