circadian clock

A multidisciplinary research team at the University of California, Irvine has revealed that the circadian clock -- the biological pacemaker that governs daily rhythms in physiological processes, including immune functions -- can be leveraged to enhance the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitor cancer therapy.

The study, published online today in the journal Nature Immunology, provides deeper insights into the intricate relationship among the circadian clock, immune regulation and tumor development and found that a therapeutic approach optimizing time-of-day delivery based on an individual's unique circadian patterns offers new avenues for prevention and treatment.

Research shows smartphones are particularly disruptive to the circadian clock that regulates sleep and other hormones.

In the study published in Cell Stem Cell, the team has demonstrated that the skin circadian clock is pivotal in coordinating the daily physiology of this tissue.

Overall, the researchers identified more than 300 liver genes that follow a circadian clock, including many involved in drug metabolism, as well as other functions such as inflammation.