Daily expression of clock genes in whole blood cells in healthy subjects and a patient with circadian rhythm sleep disorder

Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2005 Nov;289(5):R1273-9. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00126.2005. Epub 2005 Jun 16.

Abstract

In recent years, circadian rhythm sleep disorders in humans have been increasing. Clinical features characteristic of this disorder are well known, but the specific causes remain unknown. However, various derangements of circadian expression of the clock gene are a probable cause of this disease. We have attempted to elucidate the relationship between the expression of the clock genes in whole blood cells and the clinical features characteristic of this disorder. In this study, we indicate the daily expression of clock genes period (Per) 1, 2, 3, Bmal1, and Clock in whole blood cells in 12 healthy male subjects. The peak phase of Per1, Per2, and Per3 appeared in the early morning, whereas that of Bmal1 and Clock appeared in the midnight hours. Furthermore, in one patient case with circadian rhythm sleep disorder, we observed variations of the peak phase in clock genes by treatments such as light therapy, exercise therapy, and medicinal therapy. This study suggested that the monitoring of human clock genes in whole blood cells, which may be functionally important for the molecular control of the circadian pacemaker as well as in suprachiasmatic nucleus, might be useful to evaluate internal synchronization.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ARNTL Transcription Factors
  • Adult
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Biological Clocks / genetics*
  • Biological Clocks / physiology
  • Blood Cells / metabolism*
  • CLOCK Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Circadian Rhythm / genetics*
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology
  • Gene Expression / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Period Circadian Proteins
  • Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / physiopathology*
  • Time Factors
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • ARNTL Transcription Factors
  • BMAL1 protein, human
  • Bmal1 protein, mouse
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • PER1 protein, human
  • PER2 protein, human
  • PER3 protein, human
  • Per1 protein, mouse
  • Per3 protein, mouse
  • Period Circadian Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • CLOCK Proteins
  • CLOCK protein, human
  • Clock protein, mouse