Final answer:
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is the cytokine primarily responsible for cachexia in cancer patients, contributing to inflammation-related weight loss and muscle wasting.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cytokine primarily responsible for cachexia in cancer patients is Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. TNF-α is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that not only plays a key role in the acute inflammatory responses to gram-negative bacteria, such as Y. pestis, but is also implicated in the systemic weight loss and muscle wasting seen in cachexia.
This cytokine signals to other immune system cells to initiate inflammation and manage infection, thereby contributing to the complex network of immune responses that can unfortunately lead to cachexia in cancer patients. In cancer patients, TNF-α is produced in excessive amounts and contributes to the development of cachexia, which is characterized by severe weight loss, muscle wasting, and loss of appetite.