An Overview of the Circadian Clock in the Frame of Chronotherapy: From Bench to Bedside

Abstract

Most living organisms in both the plant and animal kingdoms have evolved processes to stay in tune with the alternation of day and night, and to optimize their physiology as a function of light supply. In mammals, a circadian clock relying on feedback loops between key transcription factors will thus control the temporally regulated pattern of expression of most genes. Modern ways of life have highly altered the synchronization of human activities with their circadian clocks. This review discusses the links between an altered circadian clock and the rise of pathologies. We then sum up the proofs of concept advocating for the integration of circadian clock considerations in chronotherapy for health care, medicine, and pharmacotherapy. Finally, we discuss the current challenges that circadian biology must face and the tools to address them.

Keywords: chronotherapy; circadian clock; mathematic modeling; metabolic disorders; pathologies.

Figure 1

Core clock genes and their intertwined feedback loops.

Figure 2

Circadian clock entrainment.

Figure 3

Restoring a proper alignment between the human circadian clock, metabolism, and activities.