Chronic sleep loss alters the inflammatory response and BDNF expression in C57BL/6J mice.

Although adequate sleep is imperative for proper physiological function, over one-third of US adults obtain insufficient sleep. The current research investigated the impact of chronic sleep restriction (CSR) on inflammatory markers and hippocampal BDNF mRNA, following an immune insult in both male and female mice. Patterns of cytokine expression were different when the study was done in males vs. females, indicating potential sex differences in the inflammatory response following CSR. Further, CSR led to suppressed hippocampal BDNF expression in males, an effect not observed in females. These data suggest a complex interaction between chronic sleep loss, inflammation, and sex that warrants further exploration.