title: Role of sleep in the regulation of the immune system and the pituitary hormones.
abstract: Sleep is characterized by a reduced response to external stimuli and a particular form of electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. Sleep is divided into two stages: REM sleep, characterized by muscle atonia, rapid eye movements, and EEG activity similar to wakefulness, and non-REM sleep, characterized by slow EEG activity. Around 80% of total sleep time is non-REM. Although it has been intensely studied for decades, the function (or functions) of sleep remains elusive. Sleep is a highly regulated state; some brain regions and several hormones and cytokines participate in sleep regulation. This mini-review focuses on how pituitary hormones and cytokines regulate or affect sleep and how sleep modifies the plasma concentration of hormones as well as cytokines. Also, we review the effects of hypophysectomy and some autoimmune diseases on sleep pattern. Finally, we propose that one of the functions of sleep is to maintain the integrity of the neuro-immune-endocrine system.
authors: Department of Biology of Reproduction and Sleep Disorders Clinic, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico.
authors: Beatriz
authors: B
authors: Gómez-González
authors: Emilio
authors: E
authors: Domínguez-Salazar
authors: Gabriela
authors: G
authors: Hurtado-Alvarado
authors: Enrique
authors: E
authors: Esqueda-Leon
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Santana-Miranda
authors: Jose Angel
authors: JA
authors: Rojas-Zamorano
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Velázquez-Moctezuma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007016:Hypophysectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D010907:Pituitary Hormones