title: Somnogenic cytokines with special reference to interleukin-1.
abstract: Cytokines (CKs) are involved in the mechanisms of sleep induction, and, in particular, interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha seem to play an important role in the slow-wave sleep. Here are reported two cases of normal sleep and altered sleep in which plasma levels of IL-1 beta have been determined. In the subject with a normal sleep a dramatic increase of this CK has been observed, while beta-endorphin levels were reduced. In the light of these findings, the role of sleep in the host protection is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Clnica Neurologica E, Università di Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Covelli
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cannuscio
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Munno
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altamura
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Decandia
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Maffione
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savastano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lombardi
mesh_terms: D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1