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Mice Lacking Alternatively Activated (M2) Macrophages Show Impairments in Restorative Sleep after Sleep Loss and in

Ashley Massie1, Erin Boland1, Levente Kapás1,2

  • 1Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USA.

Scientific Reports
|June 7, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Alternatively activated M2 macrophages are crucial for normal sleep regulation. Mice lacking M2 macrophages show impaired sleep rebound after deprivation and exaggerated sleep loss in cold, highlighting their role in maintaining sleep homeostasis.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Neuroscience
  • Sleep Science

Background:

  • The intricate links between sleep, metabolism, and immunity are recognized, yet the specific cellular mechanisms remain unclear.
  • Previous research indicated that systemic macrophage depletion impairs sleep following deprivation and cold exposure, suggesting macrophage-derived signals are vital for sleep maintenance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the specific contribution of alternatively activated M2 macrophages to sleep regulation.
  • To elucidate the role of M2 macrophages in mediating sleep responses to challenges like sleep deprivation and cold exposure.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized interleukin-4 receptor alpha-chain knockout (IL-4Rα KO) mice, which are deficient in M2 macrophage production.
  • Compared sleep patterns (non-rapid-eye-movement sleep [NREMS] and rapid-eye-movement sleep [REMS]) in IL-4Rα KO and wild-type (WT) mice under conditions of sleep deprivation and cold exposure.

Main Results:

  • IL-4Rα KO mice exhibited approximately 50% less NREMS rebound after sleep deprivation compared to WT mice.
  • Both WT and KO mice experienced sleep reductions during cold exposure, but KO mice showed significantly greater losses in both NREMS (~100% more) and REMS (~25% more).

Conclusions:

  • M2 macrophages play a critical role in the regulation of sleep homeostasis.
  • The findings suggest that alternatively activated M2 macrophages are the primary macrophage subset responsible for mediating sleep responses to environmental and physiological challenges.

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