Sleep and Inflammation

Sleep and inflammatory cytokines have a bidirectional relationship where circadian rhythms influence increase in levels of certain cytokines, and in return, some cytokines induce sleep, as we frequently experience during illnesses. The most commonly studied cytokines, in the context of inflammation and sleep, are interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and (IL-1). In this article, the author follows the effect of circadian rhythms on blood levels of these cytokines and explores the changes in their levels in conditions that affect sleep, such as obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia.