Systemic bacterial invasion induced by sleep deprivation

• Published in: American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology Vol. 278; no. 4; pp. 905 - R916
• Main Authors: Everson, Carol A, Toth, Linda A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.2000
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteria, Aerobic - isolation & purification; Bacteria, Anaerobic - isolation & purification; Bacterial Infections - immunology; Bacterial Infections - physiopathology; Bacteriological Techniques; Body Weight; Chronic Disease; Eating; Gram-Negative Bacteria - isolation & purification; Immunity - physiology; Intestines - microbiology; Kidney - microbiology; Liver - microbiology; Lymph Nodes - microbiology; Male; Neuroimmunomodulation - immunology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Skin - microbiology; Sleep Deprivation - immunology; Sleep Deprivation - microbiology; Space life sciences; Spleen - microbiology; Tail
• ISSN: 0363-6119; 1522-1490
• DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.2000.278.4.r905

1  Department of Physiology, University of Tennessee College of Medicine and 2  Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis Tennessee 38163 Profound sleep disruption in humans is generally believed to cause health impairments. Through comparative research, specific physical effects and underlying mechanisms altered by sleep deprivation are being elucidated. Studies of sleep-deprived animals previously have shown a progressive, chronic negative energy balance and gradual deterioration of health, which culminate in fatal bloodstream infection without an infectious focus. The present study investigated the conditions antecedent to advanced morbidity in sleep-deprived rats by determining the time course and distribution of live microorganisms in body tissues that are normally sterile. The tissues cultured for microbial growth included the blood, four major organs, six regional lymph nodes, the intestine, and the skin. The principal finding was early infection of the mesenteric lymph nodes by bacteria presumably translocated from the intestine and bacterial migration to and transient infection of extraintestinal sites. Presence of pathogenic microorganisms and their toxins in tissues constitutes a septic burden and chronic antigenic challenge for the host. Bacterial translocation and pathogenic sequelae provide mechanisms by which sleep deprivation appears to adversely affect health. bacterial translocation; bacterial infections; immunity; immunocompetence; neuroimmunology