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. 2022 Aug 28:25:100504.
doi: 10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100504. eCollection 2022 Nov.

The inflammatory immune system after wake up in healthy male individuals: A highly standardized and controlled study

Katja Petrowski  1   2 , Bjarne Schmalbach  1   3 , Mona Linhardt  1 , Liza Mekschrat  1 , Nicolas Rohleder  4
Affiliations

The inflammatory immune system after wake up in healthy male individuals: A highly standardized and controlled study

Katja Petrowski et al. Brain Behav Immun Health. .

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of two light conditions on innate proinflammatory IL-6 cytokines and the cortisol awakening response. The between-subject experiment was conducted with 55 healthy adult-males (aged M bright = 24.40, SD = 4.58; M dim = 25.47, SD = 4.96) in a standardized sleep laboratory setting with 60-min light exposure post-awakening. Cortisol significantly increased with bright light exposure as compared to dim light (significant interaction effect). As for IL-6, the main effects of time and light condition were significant, however, the interaction effect between light and time was insignificant. Results replicate stimulatory effects of bright light on cortisol. In general, IL-6 concentrations decreased in both light conditions; however, bright light graphically showed higher concentrations 45-90 min after exposure in comparison to dim light, thus bright light has a potential stimulatory effect on IL-6 production.

Keywords: Circadian rhythm; IL-6; Immune parameter; Innate proinflammatory cytokines; Melanopsin-expressing-retinal-ganglion-cells; Non-visual light-effects.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study design.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mean (±SE) cortisol levels across measurement points for dim and bright light conditions.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mean (±SE) IL-6 levels across measurement points for dim and bright light conditions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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