Biological Clock and Its Implications for Health

Human being is not the only creature that have a regular time of 24 hours or so-called circadian rhythm. Plants, animals, even bacteria also has a circadian rhythm. Jet lag occurs due to disruption of circadian rhythm after we pass through different time zones. Circadian rhythm is also often linked with the biological clock.

The body’s biological clock does not only arrange sleep and wake up time every day as well as organ function but also affects the immune system. According to the study the strength of human immune system is varies depending on the biological clock.

In a study, it is revealed that chemical substances including hormone secreted by the body’s circadian rhythms effect on the protein in the immune system.

As we all know, the immune system must detect before fighting infection. Proteins involved in the detection process is Toll-like Receptor Nine (TLR9), that is able to find a DNA virus or bacteria.

In a study of mice in laboratory, scientists found that the number of production and TLR9 function is controlled by the body’s biological clock and varies throughout the day.

If TLR9 is in peak then the body was not easily infected with the pathogen. Because of this, our sleeping time affects the immune system.

Still associated with biological clock, humans who suffering from blood poisoning are at high risk of death, if the blood poisoning occurred at around 2:00 a.m. to 06:00.

Due to the above reasons, majority of pharmaceutical companies nowadays develop drugs tailored to the body’s circadian clock. Thus the effectiveness of the drug could be further improved.

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