Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 11, 2025

Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures
Published on: November 11, 2016
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) response to a simulated night-shift schedule is modulated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor
Brieann C Satterfield1,2, Marina I Savenkova3, Ilia N Karatsoreos1,3,4
1Sleep and Performance Research Center, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA.
Abstract:
The BDNF gene contains a polymorphism (Val66Met) that influences sleep and may be associated with more flexible adaptation to circadian misalignment. Fifteen adult men (10 Val/Val homozygotes, 5 Val/Met heterozygotes) participated in a laboratory study involving two 5 d cycles of simulated night shifts. Circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) was measured from plasma, sleep was recorded polysomnographically, and performance was measured using a psychomotor vigilance test. Compared to Val/Val homozygotes, heterozygotes exhibited a blunted IL-6 temporal (diurnal) pattern, less daytime sleep restriction, and less nighttime performance impairment after the first simulated night-shift cycle. These observations suggest that heterozygotes experienced more flexible circadian adaptation.

