Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026

Quantitative Measurement of the Immune Response and Sleep in Drosophila
Published on: December 4, 2012
The sleep-immunity relationship
Charlene E Gamaldo1, Annum K Shaikh, Justin C McArthur
1Neurology, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center, 600 North Wolfe Street, Meyer 6-119, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. cgamald1@jhmi.edu
Abstract:
Research models show a strong interrelationship between sleep quality and immune function. The proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor α are classified as official sleep-regulatory substances. However, sleep-promoting properties are also possessed by several other immune and proinflammatory cellular classes. This article reviews the current physiologic evidence for the prominent somnogenic and sleep-regulatory properties inherent to these immune substances. Clinical examples of this relationship are discussed from the perspective of infectious and primarily immune-related conditions associated with significant sleep disruption and from the perspective of immune dysregulation associated with several primary sleep disorders.
Related Concept Videos
Understanding Sleep
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
Immunological Memory
What is Immunological Memory?
Immunological memory is an integral function of the immune system that allows it to recognize and react more rapidly and effectively to pathogens previously encountered. This feature is...
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Sleep-Wake Cycles
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Special Features of Adaptive Immunity
The primary cell types involved in adaptive immunity are T cells and B cells. Each type has a unique role in defending the body against pathogens. T cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity. They identify and eliminate infected cells directly,...
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

