Sleep Deprivation's Regulation of Immune System Function and Behavior

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The study proposes to investigate whether sleep deprivation will affect a variety of measures, including hormones, immune system functioning, and behaviors related to food intake and hunger. It is predicted that sleep deprivation will affect circulating neutrophil activity, and do so via affects on DNA methylation. It is also predicted that sleep deprivation will up-regulate ghrelin, and down-regulate circulating oxytocin. Finally, it is predicted that sleep deprivation will increase participants' tendencies to pick larger portions of food, and also increase their tendency to purchase foods that are more caloric in a mock supermarket scenario.

Official Title
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The Role of Sleep Deprivation in the Regulation of Immune System, Neuroendocrine Responses, and Behavioral Measures.

Conditions
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Sleep Deprivation, Sleep

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Neuroeconomics task
* Behavioral: Portion Size Task
* Procedure: Blood sample


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Male Age 18-35y Healthy (self-reported) and not on medication Non-smoking Normal sleep-wake rhythm (i.e. 7-8 h per night, self-reported) Exclusion Criteria: Major illness Taking any serious medications Any sleep conditions (e.g. irregular bedtimes, sleep complaints) Any dietary issues with the food items provided A history of endocrine or psychiatric disorders
Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Sleep deprivation<br>Total sleep deprivation: participants were required to stay up for the entire night before a 'Blood Sample' was taken and the 'Neuroeconomics task' and 'Portion size task' were performed | Behavioral: Neuroeconomics task<br>* After a night of wakefulness, participants performed the neuroeconomics task (shopping food items in a mock supermarket scenario).<br>Behavioral: Portion Size Task<br>* Participants are given a computer program that gives them the opportunity to choose the portions of a variety of food items that they would ideally like to consume<br>Procedure: Blood sample<br>* After a night of wakefulness, a blood sample was taken to assess the level and efficacy of circulating neutrophils, as well as to assay blood serum and plasma for the presence of hormones involved in hunger such as oxytocin and ghrelin<br>|
| Experimental: Sleep<br>Sleep: participants had an 8-h sleep opportunity before a 'Blood Sample' was taken and the 'Neuroeconomics task' and 'Portion size task' were performed | Behavioral: Neuroeconomics task<br>* After a night of wakefulness, participants performed the neuroeconomics task (shopping food items in a mock supermarket scenario).<br>Behavioral: Portion Size Task<br>* Participants are given a computer program that gives them the opportunity to choose the portions of a variety of food items that they would ideally like to consume<br>Procedure: Blood sample<br>* After a night of wakefulness, a blood sample was taken to assess the level and efficacy of circulating neutrophils, as well as to assay blood serum and plasma for the presence of hormones involved in hunger such as oxytocin and ghrelin<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Neutrophil phagocytotic function production | This project is designed to test the inflammatory capacity of circulating neutrophils. It also aims to investigate if any changes in neutrophil efficacy are governed by alterations in DNA methylation. Measured during 36 hours (at 1930 day 1, 0730 and 1930 day 2, 0730 day 3) | Change in 4 neutrophil phagocytotic function from baseline to 36hours later (after the nighttime intervention) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Portion Size Task | Participants will be evaluated on their tendency to choose larger or smaller portions of a variety of meal items on a computer screen. This will be conducted both following sleep deprivation and sleep, and changes over the hour will be compared between these conditions. | Change in selected portion size from baseline to 1 hr after consuming a caloric preload | 
| Neuro-economics task | Participants will be evaluated on their purchasing behavior with regards to high-calorie and low-calorie food items in a mock supermarket scenario following sleep and sleep deprivation. | Change in purchasing behaviour 1 hr after consuming a caloric preload | 
| Circulating hormone levels | Participants will have their circulating hormone levels taken and analyzed, including ghrelin and oxytocin, to determine if sleep deprivation alters hormone levels related primarily to obesity or weight gain | Change in circulating hormone levels from baseline (ie. 1930 - before sleep intervention) to 12hr later (0730 after the nighttime intervention) |