Effects of sleep deprivation on immunological responses in animal models
Publication Type: |
Conference Paper |
Year of Publication: |
2007 |
Authors: |
S. Tufik |
Publication/Journal: |
Sleep Medicine |
Keywords: |
animal models, conference, coping strategy, immune system, sleep deprivation |
ISBN: |
13899457 |
Abstract:
Although sleep occupies one third of our lives and is a vital function in the maintenance of a healthy life, the number of people exposed to sleep deprivation (SD) is increasing in modern society. It is believed that sleep is essential in the recovery from illness, and that SD is detrimental to multiple physiological processes. SD is a health risk factor associated to several disease processes leading to behavioral, hormonal and neurochemical alterations known to alter the immune response. A body of literature now exists to suggest that sleep is important for the proper functioning of host defense systems. The observation of infection in healthy tissue of SD subjects leads one to believe that SD bears negatively on the immune response, rendering such subjects to becoming more prone to disease and the exacerbation of pre-existing conditions. For instance, clinical trials have also demonstrated that post vaccination sleep deficit is detrimental to the formation of antibodies and that shift workers who commonly experience disordered sleep exhibit depressed cellular immune function. We focused on the effects of SD in the development of autoimmune disease in an experimental model of systemic lupus erythematosus and in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse. Also, we examined the effects of SD in the immunity of healthy rats and mice and in transplanted animals that underwent short and chronic SD. Investigation of the theme may yield relevant evidence that might benefit those afflicted by SD by possibly introducing novel coping strategies.