opinion | anTI‑agEIng mEDICInE |
AGEING RELAtED DISEASE: IS IL6 OVER‑PRODUCtION tHE MISSING LINK?
SLEEP DISORDERS AND Ascanio Polimeni discusses the role that sleep
can play with regard to health and wellbeing, and the accompanying role that il-6 can play
S
ASCANIO POLIMENI is Neuroendocrinologist and Co-Director of Regenera Research Group
email: ascanio.polimeni@gmail. com
Sleep disorders that are very
common among the population, may promote ageing and are cofactors in many age-related diseases, and
60 ❚
increase the risk of mortality in a range of conditions.
November/December 2011 |
prime-journal.com
leep playS a vital role in our health and wellbeing, similar to that exerted by nutrition, stress control, and physical activity for example. and we know today that the
quality of sleep is directly related to quality of life and life expectancy. Sleep exerts different functions, the
most important of which are: ■ Energy conservation ■ The consolidation of memory ■ Hormonal and immune system regulation ■ Body–mind restoration. The immune system benefits from the
effects of sleep that regulates the circadian
alternation between
cell‑mediated immunity (Th1 immune branch), which develops mostly at night (first part of sleeping time under the influence of slow‑wave sleep) and that is promoted by hormones such as melatonin and growth hormone, and humoral immunity (Th2 immune branch), which is expressed during the final part of sleeping time and during daylight hours, and that is stimulated by cortisol and vitamin D. On the other hand, sleep is influenced by the immune system; proinflammatory cytokines have a somnogenic effect while anti‑inflammatory cytokines promote waking up, altering sleep. Interleukin‑6 (IL‑6) is a multifunctional cytokine that plays a central role in host defence owing
to its wide range of immune, haematopoietic, hormonal and metabolic activities, and its potent ability to induce the acute phase response.
What is IL-6? IL‑6 is one of the main drivers of Th17 immune branch, and concomitantly regulates proinflammatory and anti‑inflammatory activities, and contributes to both the development and the resolution of the acute inflammatory response. IL‑6 is a cytokine that is produced by the cells of the immune system, vascular endothelial cells, adipocytes and skeletal muscle, and has shown to have anti‑inflammatory as well as proinflammatory properties. Over‑expression of IL‑6 has been implicated in the pathology of a number of diseases, including multiple myeloma, rheumatoid arthritis, Chron’s disease, Castleman’s disease, psoriasis, and post‑menopausal osteoporosis. IL‑6 overproduction is also thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of ageing and ageing‑related diseases, such as diabesity, cardiovascular disease (CVD), dementia,
sarcopoenia, frailty,
disability, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. However, a fundamental question remains as to whether elevated levels of IL‑6 are aimed at resolving an inflammatory response that inappropriately long or whether a
is
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