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A perfect storm: sleep loss causes systemic inflammation and death

Andrew D. Nguyen^1,2,† , Paula Carvalho Costa^1,2,† , David M. Raizen^2,3,*

¹Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
²Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
³Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
^†These authors contributed equally: Andrew D. Nguyen, Paula Carvalho Costa
* Correspondence: David M. Raizen(raizen@pennmedicine.upenn.edu)

Complete loss of sleep can be lethal, but a mechanism for the lethality has heretofore proven elusive. In a recent work in Cell, Sang et al. present findings that suggest a mechanism whereby sleep loss causes systemic inflammation and multiple organ dysfunction; triggering the cytokine storm is a brain-derived chemical, prostaglandin D2, which is released via dynamic regulation of the blood brain barrier.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41422-023-00924-x

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