This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Irwin, M. Articles by Ziegler, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Irwin, M. Articles by Ziegler, M.

Effects of Sleep and Sleep Deprivation on Catecholamine And Interleukin-2 Levels in Humans: Clinical Implications¹

Departments of Psychiatry (M.I., J.C.G.) and Medicine (J.T., M.Z.), University of California; and San Diego Veterans Affairs Medical Center (M.I., C.M., J.C.G.), San Diego, California 92161

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Michael Irwin, M.D., Department of Psychiatry V116A, San Diego Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, California 92161.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of nocturnal sleep, partial night sleep deprivation, and sleep stages on catecholamine and interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels in humans. Circulating levels of catecholamines and IL-2 were sampled every 30 min during 2 nights: undisturbed, baseline sleep and partial sleep deprivation-late night (PSD-L; awake from 0300–0600 h) in 17 healthy male volunteers. Sleep was monitored somnopolygraphically. Sleep onset was associated with a significant (P < 0.05) decline of circulating concentrations of norepinephrine and epinephrine, with a nocturnal nadir that occurred 1 h after nocturnal sleep. On the PSD-L night, levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine significantly (P < 0.05) increased in association with nocturnal awakening. During stage 3–4 sleep, levels of norepinephrine, but not epinephrine, were significantly lower (P < 0.05) compared to average levels during the awake period, stages 1–2 sleep, and rapid eye movement sleep. Nocturnal levels of circulating IL-2 did not change with sleep onset or in relation to PSD-L or the various sleep stages.

We conclude that sleep onset is associated with changes in levels of circulating catecholamines. Loss of sleep and disordered sleep with decreases in slow wave sleep may serve to elevate nocturnal catecholamine levels and contribute to cardiovascular disease.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Stranges, F. P. Cappuccio, N.-B. Kandala, M. A. Miller, F. M. Taggart, M. Kumari, J. E. Ferrie, M. J. Shipley, E. J. Brunner, and M. G. Marmot Cross-sectional versus Prospective Associations of Sleep Duration with Changes in Relative Weight and Body Fat Distribution: The Whitehall II Study Am. J. Epidemiol., February 1, 2008; 167(3): 321 - 329. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. S. Redwine, P. J. Mills, S. Hong, T. Rutledge, V. Reis, A. Maisel, and M. R. Irwin Cardiac-related Hospitalization and/or Death Associated With Immune Dysregulation and Symptoms of Depression in Heart Failure Patients Psychosom Med, January 1, 2007; 69(1): 23 - 29. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. R. Irwin, M. Wang, C. O. Campomayor, A. Collado-Hidalgo, and S. Cole Sleep deprivation and activation of morning levels of cellular and genomic markers of inflammation. Arch Intern Med, September 18, 2006; 166(16): 1756 - 1762. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Savard, S. Simard, H. Ivers, and C. M. Morin Randomized Study on the Efficacy of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Secondary to Breast Cancer, Part II: Immunologic Effects J. Clin. Oncol., September 1, 2005; 23(25): 6097 - 6106. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Bitz, H. Harder, and A. Astrup A Paradoxical Diurnal Movement Pattern in Obese Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes: A contributor to impaired appetite and glycemic control? Diabetes Care, August 1, 2005; 28(8): 2040 - 2041. [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J. Gottlieb, N. M. Punjabi, A. B. Newman, H. E. Resnick, S. Redline, C. M. Baldwin, and F. J. Nieto Association of Sleep Time With Diabetes Mellitus and Impaired Glucose Tolerance Arch Intern Med, April 25, 2005; 165(8): 863 - 867. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Motivala, A. Sarfatti, L. Olmos, and M. R. Irwin Inflammatory Markers and Sleep Disturbance in Major Depression Psychosom Med, March 1, 2005; 67(2): 187 - 194. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. R. Irwin and M. Ziegler Sleep Deprivation Potentiates Activation of Cardiovascular and Catecholamine Responses in Abstinent Alcoholics Hypertension, February 1, 2005; 45(2): 252 - 257. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Spiegel, E. Tasali, P. Penev, and E. V. Cauter Brief Communication: Sleep Curtailment in Healthy Young Men Is Associated with Decreased Leptin Levels, Elevated Ghrelin Levels, and Increased Hunger and Appetite Ann Intern Med, December 7, 2004; 141(11): 846 - 850. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Irwin, J. Pike, and M. Oxman Shingles Immunity and Health Functioning in the Elderly: Tai Chi Chih as a Behavioral Treatment Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., December 1, 2004; 1(3): 223 - 232. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Spiegel, R. Leproult, M. L'Hermite-Baleriaux, G. Copinschi, P. D. Penev, and E. Van Cauter Leptin Levels Are Dependent on Sleep Duration: Relationships with Sympathovagal Balance, Carbohydrate Regulation, Cortisol, and Thyrotropin J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2004; 89(11): 5762 - 5771. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Grenon, S. Hurwitz, N. Sheynberg, X. Xiao, B. Judson, C. D. Ramsdell, C. Kim, R. J. Cohen, and G. H. Williams Sleep restriction does not affect orthostatic tolerance in the simulated microgravity environment J Appl Physiol, November 1, 2004; 97(5): 1660 - 1666. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Saaresranta and O. Polo Sleep-disordered breathing and hormones Eur. Respir. J., July 1, 2003; 22(1): 161 - 172. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Potti, A. Panwalkar, B. Hebert, K. Sholes, M. Jo Lewis, and J. Hanley Ineffectiveness of Measuring Routine Vital Signs in Adult Inpatients With Deep Venous Thrombosis Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis, April 1, 2003; 9(2): 163 - 166. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Savard, L. Laroche, S. Simard, H. Ivers, and C. M. Morin Chronic Insomnia and Immune Functioning Psychosom Med, March 1, 2003; 65(2): 211 - 221. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Redwine, J. Dang, M. Hall, and M. Irwin Disordered Sleep, Nocturnal Cytokines, and Immunity in Alcoholics Psychosom Med, January 1, 2003; 65(1): 75 - 85. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Saaresranta and O. Polo Hormones and Breathing Chest, December 1, 2002; 122(6): 2165 - 2182. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. van Diest, K. Hamulyak, W. J. Kop, C. van Zandvoort, and A. Appels Diurnal Variations in Coagulation and Fibrinolysis in Vital Exhaustion Psychosom Med, September 1, 2002; 64(5): 787 - 792. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Redwine, R. L. Hauger, J. C. Gillin, and M. Irwin Effects of Sleep and Sleep Deprivation on Interleukin-6, Growth Hormone, Cortisol, and Melatonin Levels in Humans J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2000; 85(10): 3597 - 3603. [Abstract] [Full Text]