Sleep Immune Cross Talk and Insomnia.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the relationship between sleep and immunity, particularly focusing on the effects of melatonin on inflammation in patients with insomnia disorder.
Results Summary
The study suggests that melatonin appears to reduce inflammation in patients suffering from insomnia disorder, alongside cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-I), which also shows restorative effects on sleep and associated inflammation.
Population
Patients with insomnia disorder
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
physiological sleep | decrease | pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α) | - | - | decrease | #1 |
physiological sleep | decrease | anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) | - | - | decrease | #2 |
physiological sleep | decrease | NK-cells in the blood | - | - | decrease | #3 |
physiological sleep | increase | NK-cell activity | - | - | increases | #4 |
a short sleep duration | increase | inflammatory processes | - | - | appears associated with increased | #5 |
a short sleep duration | increase | risk of infection | - | - | appears associated with increased | #6 |
insomnia disorder | increase | pro-inflammatory cytokines | patients with insomnia disorder | - | is related to deregulation of the immune system, with an increase in the level | #7 |
insomnia disorder | decrease | lymphocyte | patients with insomnia disorder | - | is related to deregulation of the immune system, with a decrease in the level | #8 |
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-I) | decrease | associated inflammation | - | - | seems to have a restorative effect | #9 |
Melatonin | decrease | inflammation | patients suffering from insomnia disorder | - | seems to reduce | #10 |
Sleep and immunity have bidirectional relationships. In this chapter, we review the links between sleep and immunity, focusing on immune changes occurring in the insomnia disorder. During physiological sleep, there is a decrease of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α) and a decrease of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10). Examinations of ratios of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines allow to identify rather a pro-inflammatory activity at the beginning of the night and confirm then anti-inflammatory during the second part of the night. Immune cells, as NK-cells, decrease in the blood, due to their migration to secondary lymphoid organs, but their activity increases. Inversely, a short sleep duration appears associated with increased inflammatory processes and increased risk of infection.Only few studies have investigated changes in immunity in patients with insomnia disorder. These studies suggest that insomnia disorder is related to deregulation of the immune system, with an increase in the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and change in rate of secretion and a decrease in the level of lymphocyte. Insomnia treatments, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-I), seems to have a restorative effect not only on sleep, but also on the associated inflammation. Melatonin also seems to reduce inflammation in patients suffering from insomnia disorder.More studies are necessary to better understand the pathophysiology of changes in immune system in patients suffering from insomnia disorders and their clinical implications.