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Prolonged Waking and Recovery Sleep Affect the Serum MicroRNA Expression Profile in Humans

Susanne Weigend1,2, Sebastian C Holst1,2, Josefine Meier1,2

  • 1Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.

Clocks & Sleep
|October 22, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Sleep deprivation impacts blood microRNA (miRNA) levels in humans. Specific miRNAs, like miR-30c, show altered expression with wakefulness and normalize after sleep, suggesting potential as sleep debt biomarkers.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression post-transcriptionally.
  • miRNAs are implicated in various biological processes, including potential roles in sleep-wake regulation.
  • Previous research suggests miRNA involvement in animal models and narcolepsy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of acute sleep deprivation on blood miRNA expression in healthy young and older adults.
  • To identify specific miRNAs affected by sleep debt and recovery.
  • To explore the potential of miRNAs as biomarkers for sleep debt in humans.

Main Methods:

  • A controlled in-lab study involving 22 young and 9 older adult men.
  • Participants underwent 8 hours of baseline sleep, 40 hours of extended wakefulness, and 10 hours of recovery sleep.
  • Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to profile the expression of 86 miRNAs in blood serum at standardized circadian times.

Main Results:

  • Thirteen miRNAs were reliably quantified and analyzed.
  • Expression of miR-30c and miR-127 was significantly upregulated after extended wakefulness.
  • These miRNA levels normalized following recovery sleep, indicating a response to sleep debt.

Conclusions:

  • Preliminary data suggest that miR-30c and miR-127 expression levels are sensitive to sleep and wakefulness states in humans.
  • miR-30c, along with its target proteins, may serve as a potential biomarker for elevated sleep debt.
  • These findings contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms of sleep regulation by miRNAs.
Keywords:
agingbiomarkermiR-30csleep losstranscriptional regulators

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