Related Experiment Videos
A dermo-hypothalamic axis driven by TNF-α mediates sleep disturbances in psoriasis
Dandan Chen1,2, Ying Ma3, Jiliang Lu1
1Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
None:
Sleep disturbances are a debilitating feature of psoriasis, but whether they arise from itching or from direct effects of inflammation on the brain remains unclear. Here we show, using clinical data and a mouse model of psoriasis-like inflammation, that affected animals exhibit marked wakefulness and fragmented non-rapid eye movement sleep, even when itching is eliminated. This sleep disruption is linked to overactivity of wake-promoting neurons in a brain region called the anterior hypothalamic area. We find evidence of a local inflammatory response in this region, including activation of microglia and elevated levels of the signaling protein tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Directly delivering an inhibitor of this protein into the anterior hypothalamic area significantly restores normal sleep. These findings reveal a direct pathway from skin inflammation to sleep-regulating brain circuits and identify tumor necrosis factor-alpha as a potential target for treating insomnia in psoriasis.
Related Concept Videos
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
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...
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis
Management of Insomnia
Sleep-Wake Cycles
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Major Hormones and Their Functions
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and lactation.