Sleep and Microbes
1Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States.
Abstract:
Sleep is profoundly altered during the course of infectious diseases. The typical response to infection includes an initial increase in nonrapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) followed by an inhibition in NREMS. REMS is inhibited during infections. Bacterial cell wall components, such as peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharide, macrophage digests of these components, such as muramyl peptides, and viral products, such as viral double-stranded RNA, trigger sleep responses. They do so via pathogen-associated molecular pattern recognition receptors that, in turn, enhance cytokine production. Altered sleep and associated sleep-facilitated fever responses are likely adaptive responses to infection. Normal sleep in physiological conditions may also be influenced by gut microbes because the microbiota is affected by circadian rhythms, stressors, diet, and exercise. Furthermore, sleep loss enhances translocation of viable bacteria from the intestine, which provides another means by which sleep-microbe interactions impact neurobiology.
Insights
Infections alter sleep patterns, initially increasing non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) then inhibiting it, while REMS is suppressed. These sleep changes, triggered by pathogen molecules, are likely adaptive immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Sleep patterns are significantly altered during infectious diseases.
- Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) from bacteria and viruses can trigger immune responses, including changes in sleep.
- Gut microbiota composition is influenced by various factors and may interact with sleep.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how infectious diseases impact sleep architecture.
- To identify the molecular triggers of infection-induced sleep alterations.
- To understand the interplay between sleep, infection, and the gut microbiome.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on sleep, infection, and immune responses.
- Analysis of molecular pathways involved in pathogen recognition and cytokine production.
- Discussion of the bidirectional relationship between sleep, gut microbiota, and neurobiology.
Main Results:
- Infections typically increase non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) initially, followed by inhibition, while REM sleep (REMS) is consistently inhibited.
- Bacterial components (peptidoglycan, lipopolysaccharide) and viral products (dsRNA) activate pathogen-associated molecular pattern recognition receptors, leading to cytokine release and sleep modulation.
- Sleep loss can increase bacterial translocation from the gut, highlighting a connection between sleep, microbes, and neurobiology.
Conclusions:
- Altered sleep and fever responses during infection are likely adaptive mechanisms to combat pathogens.
- Interactions between sleep, gut microbes, and the immune system play a crucial role in health and disease.
- Further research into these complex interactions may reveal novel therapeutic targets.
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