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Related Concept Videos

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation02:19

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The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent...
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Circadian rhythms are cyclic changes that are crucial in plasma drug concentrations. Various standard circadian parameters, including core body temperature, heart rate, and other cardiovascular factors, directly impact disease states and the therapeutic response to drug therapy.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures
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Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures

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Glucocorticoids entrain molecular clock components in human peripheral cells.

Marc Cuesta1, Nicolas Cermakian1, Diane B Boivin2

  • 1*Centre for Study and Treatment of Circadian Rhythms, Laboratory of Molecular Chronobiology, and Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
|December 16, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Glucocorticoids, like Cortef, can reset human peripheral clocks, offering new strategies for shift workers and travelers. This study shows Cortef shifts peripheral clock gene expression, aiding circadian rhythm adjustment.

Keywords:
circadianclock genescortisolmelatoninshift work

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Area of Science:

  • Chronobiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Shift work disrupts human circadian rhythms, leading to health issues.
  • Peripheral clocks in cells (PBMCs) desynchronize slower than the central clock.
  • Glucocorticoids may synchronize peripheral clocks, similar to rodent models.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if exogenous glucocorticoids (Cortef) can synchronize human central and peripheral clocks.
  • To assess the impact of late afternoon Cortef administration on circadian markers.

Main Methods:

  • Simulated night shift experiment with human participants.
  • Oral administration of 20 mg Cortef in the late afternoon.
  • Measurement of PER1, PER2, and BMAL1 gene expression in PBMCs as peripheral clock markers.
  • Monitoring of central circadian markers.

Main Results:

  • Cortef acutely increased PER1 expression in PBMCs.
  • After 6 days, central clock markers were unaffected by Cortef.
  • Peripheral clock genes (PER2, BMAL1) in PBMCs shifted by 9.5–11.5 hours.
  • Demonstrated glucocorticoid entrainment of human peripheral clocks.

Conclusions:

  • Human peripheral clocks are sensitive to glucocorticoid administration.
  • Cortef can shift peripheral circadian rhythms without affecting the central clock.
  • Suggests potential for combined therapies targeting both central and peripheral clocks for shift work and jet lag.