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Cytokines and sleep
1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38163.
Abstract:
Infectious challenges induce sleep responses in the host characterized by an increase in non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) followed by a period of decreased NREMS. Such sleep responses represent one facet of the acute phase response and are thus probably beneficial to the host. Certain bacterial cell wall products such as lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan and viral double-stranded RNA also induce sleep responses. These microbial products share the ability to enhance cytokine production. Some cytokines such as interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor, interferon-alpha and acidic fibroblast growth factor are somnogenic. Cytokines in turn alter production of neuroendocrines and neurotransmitters, e.g., growth hormone releasing hormone and nitric oxide, which are known to be involved in sleep-wake regulation. Microbial-altered sleep thus likely involves an amplification of ongoing normal sleep regulatory mechanisms.
Insights
Infectious challenges trigger sleep changes, including increased non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS), as part of the immune response. Microbial products like lipopolysaccharide stimulate cytokines, influencing sleep regulation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Infectious challenges elicit host defense mechanisms, including altered sleep patterns.
- Sleep responses, such as increased non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS), are part of the acute phase response.
- Microbial products (e.g., lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan, viral RNA) can induce these sleep responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms by which microbial products influence sleep.
- To understand the role of cytokines in mediating infection-induced sleep alterations.
- To explore how microbial-altered sleep interacts with normal sleep regulatory pathways.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on infectious challenges, immune responses, and sleep.
- Analysis of the role of specific microbial components (lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan, dsRNA).
- Examination of cytokine involvement (IL-1, TNF, IFN-α) and their somnogenic properties.
Main Results:
- Infectious challenges induce biphasic NREMS changes: an initial increase followed by a decrease.
- Bacterial and viral products stimulate cytokine production, which are known to be somnogenic.
- Cytokines modulate neuroendocrine and neurotransmitter systems involved in sleep-wake regulation.
Conclusions:
- Microbial-induced sleep responses are likely mediated by cytokine signaling.
- These responses appear to amplify existing physiological sleep regulatory mechanisms.
- Understanding these pathways offers insights into host defense and recovery during infection.