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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
06:53
Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures
Published on: November 11, 2016
Circadian disruption, Per3, and human cytokine secretion
Jaclyn Guess1, James B Burch, Kisito Ogoussan
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, University of South Carolina, 915 Greene Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
Integrative Cancer Therapies
|November 21, 2009
Summary
Circadian disruption, linked to inflammation and cancer risk, was associated with specific gene variants and sleep quality. Poor sleep elevated VEGF, fatigue increased TNF-alpha, and Per3 gene variants correlated with IL-6 levels.
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Circadian disruption is a known risk factor for cancer, potentially mediated by inflammation.
- Per3 clock gene polymorphisms are implicated in circadian rhythm disruption and cancer susceptibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between circadian disruption markers (fatigue, depression, sleep quality) and serum cytokine levels.
- To examine the relationship between Per3 clock gene variants and inflammatory markers in patients undergoing colonoscopy.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 70 patients undergoing colonoscopy.
- Questionnaire data on fatigue, depression, and sleep quality collected.
- Serum cytokine (IL-6, TNF-alpha, VEGF, etc.) concentrations measured.
- Per3 variable tandem repeat (VTR) polymorphism genotyping performed.
Main Results:
- Poor sleep quality correlated with elevated Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).
- Fatigue-related reduced activity was associated with increased Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations.
- Per3 genotypes 4/5 or 5/5 showed higher Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels compared to the 4/4 genotype.
Conclusions:
- Circadian disruption, indicated by poor sleep and fatigue, is linked to specific inflammatory markers (VEGF, TNF-alpha).
- Per3 gene variants are associated with elevated IL-6, suggesting a role in linking circadian disruption to cancer risk.
- Inflammatory cytokine dysregulation may be a key biological mechanism connecting circadian disruption to cancer development.
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