Just one sleepless night can wreak havoc on the human body: which system is at risk?

Sleep is essential for our body’s recovery, and it is becoming increasingly clear that not only the quantity of sleep matters, but also its quality. Moreover, the results of a new study by scientists indicate that sleep deprivation can affect the immune system and may enhance inflammation, even after just one night of poor sleep, as reported by IFLScience.

Previous evidence suggests that sleep disturbances are often linked to a range of chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Researchers also found a reciprocal relationship where certain diseases contribute to sleep problems.

In a new study published in the journal The Journal of Immunology, scientists focused on examining monocytes—key components of the body’s innate immune system that play a crucial role in immune surveillance and response to pathogens. They also aimed to determine how the amount of sleep affects monocytes.

It is known that there are three subtypes of monocytes:

• classical—participate in immune surveillance;
• intermediate—participate in immune activation and inflammation;
• non-classical—participate in sensing and responding to inflammatory signals.

To study the connection between sleep and changes in monocytes, as well as the potential impact on inflammatory responses, the researchers selected 237 healthy adult participants with varying body mass indexes. The team collected blood samples from the participants to establish profiles of different monocytes and inflammatory markers. Meanwhile, their diet, physical activity, and sleep patterns were tracked using a wearable accelerometer.

The results showed that individuals with obesity had significantly poorer sleep quality, and chronic low-grade inflammation was more pronounced. The number of non-classical monocytes was also significantly increased in individuals with obesity—this correlated with poorer sleep quality and elevated pro-inflammatory markers.

The researchers also conducted controlled sleep deprivation experiments: during the experiments, five healthy and lean participants were kept awake for 24 hours—blood samples were collected from them throughout this period. The results confirmed the team’s previous findings: sleep deprivation altered their monocyte profile with a reversible increase in the expression of non-classical monocytes, similar to what was observed in individuals with obesity.

The authors of the study emphasize that their findings highlight the importance of sleep quality in regulating immune responses and inflammation in obesity. The researchers also believe that improving sleep quality may reduce inflammation and enhance individuals' health.

Important! This article is based on the latest scientific and medical research and does not contradict it. The text is for informational purposes only and does not contain medical advice. For diagnosis, please consult a physician.