Endocrine regulation of circadian physiology.
Endogenous circadian clocks regulate 24-h rhythms of behavior and physiology to align with external time. The endocrine system serves as a major clock output to regulate various biological processes. Recent findings suggest that some of the rhythmic hormones can also provide feedback to the circadian system at various levels, thus contributing to maintaining the robustness of endogenous rhythmicity. This delicate balance of clock-hormone interaction is vulnerable to modern lifestyle factors such as shiftwork or high-calorie diets, altering physiological set points. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the communication between the circadian timing and endocrine systems, with a focus on adrenal glucocorticoids and metabolic peptide hormones. We explore the potential role of hormones as systemic feedback signals to adjust clock function and their relevance for the maintenance of physiological and metabolic circadian homeostasis.
Medical Department IUniversity of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
Anthony H
AH
Tsang
Medical Department IUniversity of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
Mariana
M
Astiz
Medical Department IUniversity of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
Maureen
M
Friedrichs
Medical Department IUniversity of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany henrik.oster@uksh.de.
Henrik
H
Oster
D000818:Animals; D057906:Circadian Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000378:metabolism*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin
HPA axis; circadian rhythms; glucocorticoid; insulin; leptin