Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2025

The Use of Mouse Splenocytes to Assess Pathogen-associated Molecular Pattern Influence on Clock Gene Expression
Published on: July 24, 2018
Circadian Rhythm, Sleep, and Immune Response and the Fight against COVID-19
Mohammed A Al-Abri1, Saif Al-Yaarubi2, Elias A Said3
1Sleep Medicine Unit, Department of Physiology, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
Abstract:
Sleep is an imperative physiological aspect that plays a vital role in maintaining hormonal and humeral functions of the body and hence a healthy life. Circadian rhythms are daily oscillations in human activities and physiology that prepare human beings to better react to and anticipate challenges in the surrounding environment, which are a consequence of diurnal changes of day and night. The sleep/wake cycle is one of the most prominent manifestations of the circadian rhythm and communicates tightly with the immune system with daily oscillation of immunity. Sleep deprivation is now recognized as a common condition inherent to modern society, and it is detrimental to certain body functions, particularly immune function. The aim of this review is to explore the role of sleep in maintaining a healthy immune system during the COVID-19 pandemic. The review discusses sleep-regulatory substances that are linked to host defense mechanisms such as interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interferon gamma. Cytokine levels also fluctuate with sleep/wake homeostasis and our review explores the relationship between sleep and cytokines and proposed therapeutics. The review will also cover sleep and immune response in children, adolescents, and healthcare workers, and finally it will touch on the effect of obstructive sleep apnea on immune response and the severity of COVID-19.
Related Concept Videos
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
Understanding Sleep
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses

