Time-Restricted Feeding Alters the Innate Immune Response to Bacterial Endotoxin

An important entraining signal for the endogenous circadian clock, independent of light, is food intake. The circadian and immune systems are linked; forced desynchrony of the circadian clock via nighttime light exposure or genetic ablation of core clock components impairs immune function. The timing of food intake affects various aspects of the circadian clock, but its effects on immune function are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that temporal desynchrony of food intake alters innate immune responses. Adult male Swiss Webster mice were provided with food during the night, the day, or ad libitum for 4 wk, followed by administration of LPS prior to the onset of either the active phase (zeitgeber time [ZT]12: Experiment 1) or the inactive phase (ZT0: Experiment 2). Three hours after LPS administration, blood was collected, and serum was tested for bacteria-killing capacity against Escherichia coli, as a functional assay of immune function. Additionally, cytokine expression was examined in the serum (protein), spleen, and hypothalamus (mRNA). Day-fed mice suppressed bacteria-killing capacity and serum cytokine responses to LPS during the active phase (ZT12). Night-fed mice increased bactericidal capacity, as well as serum and hypothalamic mRNA responses of certain proinflammatory cytokines during the active phase. Only day-fed mice enhanced serum cytokine responses when LPS challenge occurred during the inactive phase (ZT0); this did not result in enhanced bactericidal capacity. These data suggest that mistimed feeding has functional relevance for immune function and provide further evidence for the integration of the circadian, metabolic, and immune systems.