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Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures
06:53

Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures

Published on: November 11, 2016

Circadian rhythm of leucocytes and lymphocytes subsets and its possible correlation with the function of the

S Suzuki1, S Toyabe, T Moroda

  • 1Department of Immunology, Niigata University School of Medicine, Japan.

Clinical and Experimental Immunology
|December 31, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Leukocyte levels exhibit circadian rhythms, with distinct cell types increasing during day or night. Autonomic nervous system regulation, via adrenergic and cholinergic receptors, influences these daily immune cell variations.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Chronobiology
  • Autonomic Neuroscience

Background:

  • Leukocyte (white blood cell) levels fluctuate physiologically.
  • Circadian rhythms significantly impact leukocyte counts.
  • Newly identified lymphocyte subsets necessitate a comprehensive circadian rhythm study.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the circadian rhythm of all leukocyte subsets.
  • To classify leukocytes based on their diurnal variation patterns.
  • To explore the relationship between autonomic nervous system activity and leukocyte rhythms.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive analysis of leukocyte number and proportion variations over a 24-hour cycle.
  • Classification of leukocyte subsets into daytime and nighttime rhythm groups.
  • Assessment of adrenergic and cholinergic receptor density on different leukocyte subsets.

Main Results:

  • All leukocytes displayed circadian rhythm variations.
  • Granulocytes, macrophages, NK cells, extrathymic T cells, gammadelta T cells, and CD8+ T cells increased during the day.
  • T cells, B cells, alphabeta T cells, and CD4+ T cells increased at night.
  • Daytime cells showed high adrenergic receptor density; nighttime cells showed high cholinergic receptor density.
  • Exercise increased daytime-rhythm cells.

Conclusions:

  • Leukocyte levels are regulated by circadian rhythms.
  • The autonomic nervous system likely modulates leukocyte rhythms through adrenergic and cholinergic pathways.
  • Immune cell behavior is closely tied to daily activity patterns and nervous system control.

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