Generic placeholder image

Current Pharmaceutical Design

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1381-6128
ISSN (Online): 1873-4286

Research Article

Disruption of Circadian Rhythms and Sleep in Critical Illness and its Impact on Innate Immunity

Author(s): Viola Dengler, Kristin Westphalen and Michael Koeppen

Volume 21, Issue 24, 2015

Page: [3469 - 3476] Pages: 8

DOI: 10.2174/1381612821666150706105034

Price: $65

Abstract

The earth rotates on its axis around the sun, creating a day and night cycle, that caused the development of circadian rhythms. The circadian rhythm is primarily entrained by light, which is detected by the retina. Retinal ganglion cells project to a part of the hypothalamus termed suprachiasmatic nucleus. Here, we find the master molecular clock, composed of a transcription-translation-loop at its core. The master clock indirectly influences the innate immune system via different biological systems. Also, the master clock controls the peripheral clocks, which are present in innate immune cells. Here, circadian rhythm proteins influence the response of immune cells to pathogens. Furthermore, the master clock influences our sleep-pattern, the most important restorative physiological function. In critically ill patients the circadian rhythm is substantially altered, supporting a dysfunctional innate immune response. This review discusses recent basic science findings on the interaction of the circadian rhythm and the innate immune system. Furthermore we give an outlook on potential future therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: Circardian rhythym, critical care, innate immunity, sepsis.


Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy