Interferon-alpha acutely impairs sleep in healthy humans.
We investigated the effects of two low doses of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) on nocturnal sleep in 18 healthy men by means of polysomnographic sleep recordings. At 1900h, human recombinant IFN-alpha (1000 or 10000 U/kg body weight) or placebo was administered subcutaneously. Between 2300h and 0700h subjects were allowed to sleep. In general effects were stronger at the dose of 10000 than 1000 U/kg body weight of IFN-alpha. Although, after IFN-alpha subjects experienced increased fatigue, the cytokine impaired the quality of nocturnal sleep. The higher dose of IFN-alpha suppressed slow wave sleep (17.8 +/- 2.0% vs 25.2 +/- 2.6% following placebo, P<0.003) but increased time spent in shallow sleep (P<0.05) during the first half of sleep time. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep latency was postponed (P<0.02) and time spent in REM sleep was significantly decreased after IFN-alpha (P<0.04). The impairing influence of IFN-alpha on sleep in humans is in contrast with findings of sleep promoting effects of this cytokine in animals. Our data suggest that endogenous IFN-alpha may be a factor responsible for alterations of sleep, e.g. in the course of viral infections.
Späth-Schwalbe
E
E
Charité, Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
Lange
T
T
Perras
B
B
Fehm
H L
HL
Born
J
J
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D006304:Health Status; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013696:Temperature
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone