Sleep deprivation alters neutrophil functions and levels of Th1-related chemokines and CD4+ T cells in the blood

Purpose The state of knowledge about the effect of sleep deprivation on the immune system is scarce and conflicting. It would therefore be useful to investigate the consequences of sleep deprivation on the immune system. We have studied the effect of sleep deprivation on the changes in neutrophil functions, and the ex vivo proliferative pattern of CD4 + T lymphocytes in relationship with blood cytokine and chemokine levels due to the crucial role of these cells in mounting potent immune responses. Methods Healthy volunteers were followed for 3 weeks. They had normal sleep in weeks 1 and 3 and they were sleep-deprived on week 2, sleeping