According to recent research, prolonged sleep loss can lead to severe inflammatory responses in the body, and may even result in death. Specifically, lack of sleep increases the levels of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) in the brain, which, when expelled into the bloodstream across the blood-brain barrier, can induce the aggregation of circulating neutrophils and a cytokine storm syndrome, causing serious pathological consequences for the peripheral immune system. This inflammatory response is similar to the "cytokine storm" seen in severe cases of COVID-19, which can lead to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).
In a study published in the journal Cell, researchers found that mice deprived of sleep for an extended period had a 70% or higher mortality rate within four days due to severe organ failure. The mice experienced a rapid accumulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-6 and IL-17A) and chemokines (such as CXCL1 and CXCL2) in their blood, leading to the recruitment of neutrophils from the bone marrow to the circulatory system, ultimately resulting in MODS.
This research underscores the importance of sleep in maintaining the balance of the immune system and provides new scientific evidence for explaining and addressing health issues caused by sleep deprivation. Therefore, ensuring adequate sleep is crucial for overall health maintenance.