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Updated: May 8, 2026
06:50
The Use of Mouse Splenocytes to Assess Pathogen-associated Molecular Pattern Influence on Clock Gene Expression
Published on: July 24, 2018
A temporal dialogue between the circadian clock and chronic inflammatory diseases
Siyu Chen1,2,3,4, David Ray1,2,3,4
1NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Warneford Hospital, Warneford Lane, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK.
Disease Models & Mechanisms
|May 7, 2026
Summary
Chronic inflammation disrupts the body's natural rhythms, leading to harmful shifts in immune activity. Circadian-based therapies offer a promising new way to manage inflammatory diseases by restoring biological timing.
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology
- Immunology
- Metabolic Diseases
Background:
- The circadian clock synchronizes biological processes with daily cycles, regulating immune activity under normal conditions.
- Chronic inflammation is linked to significant circadian disruptions, potentially causing a pro-inflammatory state and hindering disease resolution.
- Altered circadian rhythms in chronic inflammation can negatively impact immune responses, energy balance, and overall fitness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the bidirectional relationship between circadian regulation and chronic inflammation.
- To explore how circadian rhythms influence inflammatory responses and how inflammation affects the body's internal clock.
- To identify future directions for circadian-based therapeutic strategies in managing chronic inflammatory diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review examining the interplay between circadian rhythms and inflammation.
- Analysis of how circadian alterations impact immune-mediated, metabolic, and infectious conditions.
- Discussion of molecular mechanisms linking the circadian clock, inflammation, and metabolism.
Main Results:
- Circadian rhythms dictate the timing, severity, and tissue specificity of inflammatory responses.
- Inflammatory signals converge on shared pathways that interface with the circadian clock, disrupting temporal organization.
- Persistent circadian alterations in chronic inflammation promote a pro-inflammatory state.
Conclusions:
- Circadian dysregulation is a key factor in the pathology and persistence of chronic inflammatory diseases.
- Circadian-based therapies hold promise for more precise and holistic management of inflammatory conditions.
- Future research should focus on molecular links, personalized circadian medicine, and integrating environmental factors for effective treatment.
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