Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
04:33

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression

Published on: April 26, 2024

1.5K

Role of the IL-6-Receptor expression in CD14+ monocytes in modulating sleep in patients with bipolar disorder

Philipp Ritter1, Moritz Brandt2, Wiebke Schrempf3

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.

Journal of Affective Disorders
|July 18, 2018
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Bipolar disorder patients show poorer sleep quality, linked to higher Interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) levels in monocytes. This suggests IL-6R may contribute to sleep disturbances in bipolar disorder.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Bipolar disorder is frequently linked to persistent sleep disturbances.
  • Pro-inflammatory cytokines and their receptors, like Interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), are implicated in mental health conditions.
  • Elevated IL-6R levels have been observed in bipolar disorder patients, but its direct association with sleep quality remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between sleep quality and architecture and the levels of mRNA coding for IL-6R in peripheral monocytes of euthymic bipolar disorder patients.
  • To explore the potential role of IL-6R in mediating sleep disturbances associated with bipolar disorder.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed sleep quality and architecture in euthymic bipolar disorder patients (n=24) and healthy controls (n=25) using polysomnography (PSG) and actigraphy.
  • Isolated CD14+ monocytes and quantified mRNA levels for IL-6R using hybridization assays.
  • Analyzed the association between IL-6R levels and sleep measures using linear regression, controlling for confounders.

Main Results:

  • Bipolar disorder patients reported reduced subjective sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and exhibited more frequent arousals and brief awakenings.
  • IL-6R levels significantly predicted both subjective sleep quality and the frequency of arousals.
  • The study did not replicate previous findings of elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA in monocytes of bipolar disorder patients.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced sleep quality in euthymic bipolar disorder patients may be associated with increased IL-6R expression in peripheral monocytes.
  • IL-6R emerges as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for sleep disturbances in bipolar disorder.
Keywords:
Biomarker, Circadian rhythmsBipolar disorderIL-6RSleep

More Related Videos

Differentiation of Functional Osteoclasts from Human Peripheral Blood CD14+ Monocytes11:52

Differentiation of Functional Osteoclasts from Human Peripheral Blood CD14+ Monocytes

Published on: January 27, 2023

4.5K
A Simple and Efficient Method for Testing Immunomodulatory Agents for Generation of Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells from Human CD14+ Monocytes11:34

A Simple and Efficient Method for Testing Immunomodulatory Agents for Generation of Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells from Human CD14+ Monocytes

Published on: April 11, 2025

846

Related Concept Videos

Bipolar Disorder01:30

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition marked by significant mood fluctuations, including episodes of mania and depression. Elevated energy levels, heightened mood or irritability, impulsive behavior, reduced sleep needs, rapid speech, racing thoughts, inflated self-esteem, and distractibility characterize mania. Individuals with bipolar disorder often alternate between depressive and manic states, with periods of emotional stability lasting an average of six months to a year.
817
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep01:24

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
455
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder01:15

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...
1.7K
Internal Receptors01:31

Internal Receptors

Many cellular signals are hydrophilic and therefore cannot pass through the plasma membrane. However, small or hydrophobic signaling molecules can cross the hydrophobic core of the plasma membrane and bind to internal, or intracellular, receptors that reside within the cell. Many mammalian steroid hormones use this mechanism of cell signaling, as does nitric oxide (NO) gas.
74.7K
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation01:13

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
953
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins02:18

Intrinsically Disordered Proteins

Intrinsically disordered proteins are a group of proteins that do not fold into specific three-dimensional structures. Their structural flexibility allows them to complement ordered proteins to perform functions that are inaccessible to rigid structures. They are more common in eukaryotes than prokaryotes and may either be exclusively intrinsically disordered or hybrid proteins, consisting of a mix of ordered and disordered regions. The absence of a rigid structure in these proteins can be...
19.6K