Dysfunctions of biological clocks and their treatments

Annales pharmaceutiques françaises
Yvan Touitou

Abstract

Biological rhythms are periodic phenomena entrained to environmental changes by exogenous factors called synchronizers or entraining agents namely the light-dark cycle, the rest-activity cycle and the seasons, among others. In humans the major synchronizers are the light-dark and rest activity cycles. The endogenous component of a biological rhythm is dependent upon a number of clock genes. The main biological clock (oscillator or pacemaker) is the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus. The photoperiod (light-dark cycle) perceived by the retina acts on the SCN genes. Peripheral clocks have also been described in a number of tissues e.g. retina, adrenals. In a number of occurrences the synchronizers are badly perceived (transmeridian flights, shiftwork, nightwork...) or are not at all perceived (blindness). This situation is named rhythm desynchronization, it is external when the desynchronization is strictly related to the environment or internal when it is related to a dysfunction of the clock like in e.g. aging, Alzheimer disease, seasonal affective disorders (SAD) or hormone-dependent cancers which results in fatigue, sleep and mood disorders... A number of drugs called resynchronizing agents or chronobi...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1979·Biology of Reproduction·J M Brandon, M C Bibby
Aug 1, 1992·Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry·B AlvarezJ D Parkes
Jun 1, 1992·The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism·E Van CauterG Copinschi
Jan 1, 1991·Journal of Biological Rhythms·R L SackL D Keith
Jan 1, 1990·European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology·Y TouitouA Auzéby
May 7, 1986·Brain Research·M R Ralph, M Menaker
Jan 1, 1973·Psychopharmacologia·J A DaviesP H Redfern
Apr 1, 1981·The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease·W B MendelsonJ C Gillin
Dec 12, 1980·Science·A J LewyS P Markey
Jun 1, 1995·Physiology & Behavior·H Y ChangY Morita
Mar 6, 1995·European Journal of Pharmacology·R NaveP Lavie
Jul 16, 1994·BMJ : British Medical Journal·I HaimovP Lavie
Nov 1, 1996·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·G MayerK Meier-Ewert
Dec 24, 1997·Journal of Biological Rhythms·R L Sack, A J Lewy
Dec 24, 1997·Journal of Biological Rhythms·J ArendtS Deacon
Dec 31, 1997·Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences·M OkawaS Takahashi
Mar 23, 1999·Biological Signals and Receptors·L I BruscoD P Cardinali
Oct 12, 2000·The New England Journal of Medicine·R L SackA J Lewy
Jun 19, 2001·Experimental Gerontology·Y Touitou
Oct 18, 2001·Journal of the National Cancer Institute·S DavisR G Stevens
Oct 18, 2001·Journal of the National Cancer Institute·E S SchernhammerG A Colditz
Nov 7, 2001·Journal of Sleep Research·K M SharkeyC I Eastman

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jun 22, 2010·Chronobiology International·Raffaella CalatiAlessandro Serretti
Apr 2, 2013·Journal of Physiology, Paris·Yvan Touitou
Jul 28, 2016·Chronobiology International·Yvan TouitouGarance Dispersyn

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.