Better understanding homeostasis and how organs coordinate their function over the course of a day could lead to greater drug efficacy.
- Each individual has their own circadian rhythm and almost all genes and cells are regulated by this clock.
- Disruption of the clock and circadian rhythms can be both a cause and an effect of diseases ranging from diabetes to cancer.
- Circadian clocks align internal processes with external time, allowing the body to adapt to daily environmental changes such as the light-dark cycle.
Chronopharmacology is of increasing interest to researchers. Most biological phenomena in the body are rhythmic and mostly follow the 24-hour day length that forms the circadian rhythm. This cycle controls behavior, hormones, the immune system and metabolism. In a new study, published February 12 in the journal ScienceAmerican researchers from the University of California have examined how this clock controls various aspects of homeostasis, the ability of a system to maintain its internal balance, and how the organs coordinate their functions during the day.
Our body adapts thanks to the circadian rhythm
Each individual has their own circadian rhythm and almost all genes and cells are regulated by this clock. “What’s fascinating is that almost every cell that makes up our organs has its own clock, and so timing is a crucial aspect of biology.enthuses Kevin B. Koronowski, lead author of the article. Understanding how daily timing is embedded in function in all organs has implications for human health because disruption of the clock and circadian rhythms can be both a cause and an effect of diseases ranging from diabetes to cancer..” By conducting experiments in human cells and mice, scientists sought to uncover the physiological circuits through which biological clocks ensure consistency.
Circadian clocks align internal processes with external time. This allows the organism to adapt to daily environmental changes such as the light-dark cycle. In complex organisms, clock function begins with the molecular clock, or the genetically encoded oscillator in every cell. “Strategies to set our clocks and boost rhythms have shown promise in preclinical studies, illustrating the importance of unraveling this aspect of our biology and unlocking the potential it holds for treatments and drugs of the future.“says Kevin Koronowski.
A disruption of the circadian rhythm
Circadian imbalance can disrupt the body and induce harmful effects on health if it is prolonged. Our current lifestyle has negative effects on this rhythm. “Chronic misalignment – when eating and sleeping patterns conflict with the natural light-dark cycle – is associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders and cancercontinues the researcher. Much of the global workforce works atypical hours and can be particularly vulnerable.”
The researchers want to go further in understanding the importance of this rhythm on the functioning of our organism. “It has become urgent to discover the molecular basis of the relationship between the circadian clock and diseaseconcluded Kevin Koronowski. Deciphering the means by which clocks communicate between metabolic organs has the potential to transform our understanding of metabolism, and this may hold promise for innovative, non-invasive strategies to promote health..”
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