The results of such sleep deprivation can reduce productivity as well as increase the chances of accidents at home or at work. We also know that excessive daytime sleepiness occurs in about 5 percent of the population, so a better understanding of the mechanisms of sleep could help millions of people. Il-6 is a cytokine.
Cytokines are proteins that act as regulators in immune function, metabolism and sleep.
Vgontzas and his team studied eight healthy young men between the ages of 20 and 29. They were all in general good health, physically active but not excessively, had no sleep complaints and were not taking any medications. Each subject took part in the experiment that lasted seven days. Each subject spent four consecutive nights in the sleep lab and was able to have a normal night of sleep. On the fifth night subjects were made to stay up and not sleep at all.