# Acute Sleep Deprivation and the Autoimmune TLR-BANK1 Pathway: Interplay with Gender and Emotional State

## TL;DR

This study shows that sleep deprivation affects immune-related genes differently in men and women, and these effects depend on mood changes.

## Contribution

The study reveals sex- and mood-dependent modulation of TLR7 and BANK1 gene expression due to sleep deprivation.

## Key findings

- Sleep deprivation reduced TLR7 expression in all participants and subgroups.
- Women had higher TLR7 expression than men after sleep deprivation.
- BANK1 expression increased after sleep deprivation in non-responders but not in responders.

## Abstract

Deprivation of sleep (DS) is linked to increased risk of immune-mediated diseases. Toll-like receptors (TLR7, TLR9) and BANK1 are key B-cell signaling components that may contribute to their pathogenesis. Seventy-six adults underwent polysomnography (PSG) followed by DS. Venous blood was collected after PSG and DS. Mood was evaluated before and after each stage using Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. Participants were classified as Responders (REs) or Non-Responders (NRs) based on mood changes post-DS. Gene mRNA expression of TLR7, TLR9, and BANK1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was analyzed by qRT-PCR. DS reduced TLR7 expression in the entire study group and within NRs, REs, and male and female subgroups (all p < 0.001). During analysis of covariance, women exhibited higher TLR7 expression than men post-DS (p = 0.022), independent of age and body mass index (BMI). At baseline, women exhibited lower expression of TLR9 (p = 0.009, independent of age and BMI), which was abolished after DS (p = 0.570). BANK1 expression increased post-DS in the entire study group and in NRs (p = 0.021), but not REs (p = 0.329). DS modulates B-cell-related immune signaling, with reduced TLR7 and increased BANK1 expression in a sex- and mood-dependent manner.