Sleep-deprivation reduces NK cell number and function mediated by β-adrenergic signalling.
Reduction of sleep time triggers a stress response, leading to augmented levels of glucocorticoids and adrenaline. These hormones regulate components of the innate immune system such as natural killer (NK) and NKT cells. In the present study, we sought to investigate whether and how stress hormones could alter the population and function of NK and NKT cells of mice submitted to different lengths of paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD, from 24 to 72 h). Results showed that 72h of PSD decreased not only NK and NKT cell counts, but also their cytotoxic activity against B16F10 melanoma cells in vitro. Propranolol treatment during PSD reversed these effects, indicating a major inhibitory role of beta-adrenergic receptors (β-AR) on NK cells function. Moreover, both corticosterone plasma levels and expression of beta 2-adrenergic receptors (β2-AR) in NK cells increased by 48 h of PSD. In vitro incubation of NK cells with dexamethasone augmented the level of β2-AR in the cell surface, suggesting that glucocorticoids could induce β2-AR expression. In summary, we propose that reduction of NK and NKT cell number and cytotoxic activity appears to be mediated by glucocorticoids-induced increased expression of β2-AR in these cells.
Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Napoleão de Barros, 925 - 1° andar, Vila Clementino, 04024-002 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Centro Universitário São Camilo, Avenida Nazaré, 1501, Ipiranga, 04263-200 São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: bialorenzo@gmail.com.
Beatriz H P
BH
De Lorenzo
Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Napoleão de Barros, 925 - 1° andar, Vila Clementino, 04024-002 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Laís
L
de Oliveira Marchioro
Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Napoleão de Barros, 925 - 1° andar, Vila Clementino, 04024-002 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Carollina Ribeiro
CR
Greco
Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Napoleão de Barros, 925 - 1° andar, Vila Clementino, 04024-002 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Deborah
D
Suchecki
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000276:immunology*; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology
D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta
Cytotoxicity; Murine melanoma; NK cells; Sleep deprivation; Stress; β(2)-Adrenergic receptor