Effect of one night of sleep loss on changes in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels in healthy men

► TNF-α is a mediator of excessive sleepiness in pathological conditions. ► Increased TNF-α has been previously described in chronic sleep deprivation. ► We study the effect of 40h of total sleep deprivation in healthy subjects. ► Experiment was lead in absence of psychological or physical stressors. ► We observed an increase of TNF-α after 34–37h of sleep deprivation. Total sleep deprivation in humans is associated with increased daytime sleepiness, decreased performance, elevations in inflammatory cytokines, and hormonal/metabolic disturbances. To assess the effects of 40h of total sleep deprivation (TSD) under constant and well controlled conditions, on plasma levels of TNF-α and its receptor (TNFR1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), cortisol and C-reactive protein (CRP), sleepiness and performance, 12 healthy men (29±3years) participated in a 5-days sleep deprivation experiment (two control nights followed by a night of sleep loss and one recovery night). Between 0800 and 2300 (i.e. between 25 and 40h of sleep deprivation), a serial of blood sampling, multiple sleep latency, subjective levels of sleepiness and reaction time tests were completed before (day 2: D2) and after (day 4: D4) one night of sleep loss. We showed that an acute sleep deprivation (i.e. after 34 and 37h of sleep deprivation) induced a significant increase in TNF-α (P