Cited by 1,325Sleep and Wakefulness ResearchSleep and related disordersCircadian rhythm and melatonin

Why Sleep Is Important for Health: A Psychoneuroimmunology Perspective

Open access
Irwin, Michael R.·2015·Annual Review of Psychology

Abstract

Sleep has a critical role in promoting health. Research over the past decade has documented that sleep disturbance has a powerful influence on the risk of infectious disease, the occurrence and progression of several major medical illnesses including cardiovascular disease and cancer, and the incidence of depression. Increasingly, the field has focused on identifying the biological mechanisms underlying these effects. This review highlights the impact of sleep on adaptive and innate immunity, with consideration of the dynamics of sleep disturbance, sleep restriction, and insomnia on (a) antiviral immune responses with consequences for vaccine responses and infectious disease risk and (b) proinflammatory immune responses with implications for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and depression. This review also discusses the neuroendocrine and autonomic neural underpinnings linking sleep disturbance and immunity and the reciprocal links between sleep and inflammatory biology. Finally, interventions are discussed as effective strategies to improve sleep, and potential opportunities are identified to promote sleep health for therapeutic control of chronic infectious, inflammatory, and neuropsychiatric diseases.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review argues that sleep disturbance impairs adaptive immunity and increases inflammation through HPA-axis and sympathetic pathways, linking sleep to infectious disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and depression. It synthesizes evidence that behavioral sleep treatments may reduce inflammatory markers, though mediation by inflammation remains unproven.

Key findings

  • Insomnia complaints occur in nearly 25% of the US population, nearly 10% meet diagnostic criteria for chronic insomnia, and insomnia persists for as long as three years in nearly 50% of patients.
  • Experimental sleep loss reduces T-cell IL-2 production, shifts Th1/Th2 balance toward Th2, reduces monocyte IL-12, and increases IL-10; partial sleep loss reduced influenza A vaccine response by over 50%, and shorter sleep duration (<6 h) was linked to decreased hepatitis B vaccine protection in 125 midlife adults.
  • Sleep loss and short sleep increase inflammatory markers including CRP, IL-6, TNF, IL-1β, and IL-17 via NF-κB and TLR-4 signaling; insomnia with short sleep duration (≤5 h) was associated with a fivefold greater risk of hypertension and a fourfold increased risk of incident hypertension, while persistent insomnia conferred a 14-fold greater risk of depression in the following year.
  • Behavioral treatments may reduce inflammation: cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia was associated with 50% lower CRP one year after treatment among those with insomnia remission, and tai chi improved insomnia complaints, augmented herpes zoster vaccine responses, and reduced IL-6.

Methods

  • Narrative review of psychoneuroimmunology literature; no primary data collection. It synthesizes human and animal experimental sleep deprivation, naturalistic sleep disturbance, epidemiologic cohorts, vaccine response studies, and behavioral intervention trials.
  • Main analysis is a conceptual integration of sleep effects on adaptive and innate immunity, HPA-axis and sympathetic nervous system pathways, inflammatory signaling, and disease outcomes; no formal systematic search or meta-analysis is described.

Limitations

  • Stated: no prospective study has systematically evaluated whether elevated inflammation mediates associations between sleep disturbance and cardiovascular disease or cancer, and the prospective role of sleep disturbance in driving inflammation that mediates depression is not known.
  • Stated: epidemiologic findings on insomnia and CRP are mixed; no systematic studies have evaluated sedative hypnotics on markers of inflammation, and no randomized controlled trials have assessed whether inflammation is altered with pharmacotherapy of insomnia.
  • Evident: as a narrative review, it lacks systematic search, quality appraisal, and quantitative synthesis; heterogeneity in sleep measures, populations, and study designs limits causal inference.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115205

Cites

203 of 203 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 130 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Premisecitation

    The nocturnal increase of natural killer cell activity is dependent in part on sleep.

    “the nocturnal increase of natural killer (NK) cell activity, a type of cytotoxic lymphocyte critical to the innate immune system, is dependent in part on sleep”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Kronfol et al. 1997

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Interpretationreasoning

    Sleep has a critical role in promoting health.

    “Sleep has a critical role in promoting health.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Premisecitation

    Activation of the HPA axis releases cortisol that suppresses proinflammatory and antiviral immune responses.

    “activation of the HPA axis releases cortisol that suppresses proinflammatory and antiviral immune responses by three mechanisms”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Irwin & Cole 2011

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Interpretationnone given

    Sleep disturbance has a powerful influence on the risk of infectious disease.

    “sleep disturbance has a powerful influence on the risk of infectious disease”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Premisecitation

    Disturbances of sleep including insomnia complaints and extremes of sleep duration adversely influence risk of infectious and inflammatory disease.

    “compelling evidence that disturbances of sleep including insomnia complaints and extremes of sleep duration adversely influence risk of infectious and inflammatory disease”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Dew et al. 2003

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Kripke et al. 2002

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Mallon et al. 2002

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims. 15
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 1
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Sleep influences the HPA axis and the SNS, which in turn regulate adaptive and innate immune responses.

    “Sleep influences the two primary effector systems, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), which in turn regulate adaptive and innate immune responses.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Behavioral treatments have robust efficacy for insomnia, with remission sustained in the long term.

    “Substantial evidence shows that behavioral treatments have robust efficacy, with remission of insomnia sustained in the long term”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Irwin et al. 2006a

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Morin et al. 2006a

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Growth hormone and prolactin enhance the proliferation and differentiation of T cells and promote type 1 cytokine activity.

    “GH and prolactin are well known to enhance the proliferation and differentiation of T cells as well as to promote type 1 cytokine activity”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lange et al. 2006a

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Certain aspects of immunity are mainly influenced by circadian processes, whereas other immune measures are primarily steered by sleep.

    “certain aspects of immunity are mainly influenced by circadian processes, whereas other immune measures are primarily steered by sleep”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    In the aftermath of sleep disruption, adrenergic signaling is thought to steer inflammatory gene expression and lead to increases in daytime levels of markers of innate immunity and inflammation.

    “in the aftermath of sleep disruption, such adrenergic signaling is thought to steer inflammatory gene expression and lead to increases in daytime levels of markers of innate immunity and inflammation”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Short sleep duration might increase infectious disease risk by increasing susceptibility to viral pathogens or expression of symptoms, or both.

    “suggest the possibility that short sleep duration might increase infectious disease risk by increasing susceptibility to viral pathogens or expression of symptoms, or both”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The effects of sleep loss on vaccine response were persistent for up to one year, with reduced frequency of antigen-specific Th cells and reduced levels of antigen-specific IgG1.

    “the effects of sleep loss were persistent for up to one year, with a reduced frequency of antigen-specific Th cells as well reduced levels of antigen Ag-specific immunoglobulin G1”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lange et al. 2011

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Both partial- and total-night sleep deprivation reduce T cell production of IL-2, and this effect is independent of the total number of circulating T cells.

    “Both partial- and total-night sleep deprivation reduce T cell production of IL-2, and this effect is independent of the total number of circulating T cells”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Born et al. 1997 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Irwin et al. 1996

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Irwin et al. 1999

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Nocturnal sleep serves to prime the immune system to infectious challenge and to induce nocturnal activation of inflammatory signaling.

    “Nocturnal sleep, as described above, serves to prime the immune system to infectious challenge and to induce nocturnal activation of inflammatory signaling.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In experimental rhinovirus inoculation, poor sleep efficiency is associated with increased susceptibility to the common cold and greater symptom reporting.

    “In experimental studies in which healthy adults are inoculated with a rhinovirus that produces symptoms of the common cold, poor sleep efficiency was associated with increased susceptibility to the common cold and greater symptom reporting”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cohen et al. 2009

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In individuals reporting chronic sleep disturbance, a single night of sleep loss triggers increases in IL-6 and TNF, which is not found in those without underlying sleep problems.

    “Yet, in a vulnerable population of individuals who report chronic sleep disturbance, a single night of sleep loss triggers an activation of inflammation with increases in IL-6 and TNF, which is not found in those who have no underlying sleep problems (Irwin et al. 2004).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Irwin et al. 2004

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Each additional hour of sleep duration results in an increase in CRP and an increase in IL-6, whereas a shorter sleep duration is associated with an increase in TNF.

    “Patel et al. (2009) found that each additional hour of sleep duration resulted in an increase in CRP and an increase in IL-6, whereas a shorter sleep duration was associated with an increase in TNF.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Patel et al. 2009

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Sleep disturbance has a critical role in mediating the association between depressive symptoms and hypertension incidence as well as all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality.

    “with recent findings indicating that sleep disturbance has a critical role in mediating the association between depressive symptoms and hypertension incidence (Gangwisch et al. 2010) as well as all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality (Azevedo Da Silva et al. 2014)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Gangwisch et al. 2010

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Azevedo Da Silva et al. 2014

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Overall poor sleep quality is associated with increases in inflammatory biomarkers, but only for women.

    “Suarez (2008) found that overall poor sleep quality was associated with increases inflammatory biomarkers, but only for women”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Suarez 2008

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    During NREM or SWS, sympathetic activity is decreased; during REM sleep, SNS outflow is higher, similar to daytime levels.

    “During NREM or SWS, sympathetic activity is decreased; during REM sleep, SNS outflow is higher, similar to daytime levels (Somers et al. 1993).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Somers et al. 1993

      Not checked in the free run.

15 of 15
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Immunologic response to vaccination is a valid proxy for infectious disease risk.

    “Research on the effects of sleep loss on vaccine responses provides a translational perspective on the sleep-related changes in adaptive immunity by identifying clinically relevant endpoints related to infectious disease risk including immunologic response to vaccination.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Findings from experimental sleep deprivation in healthy adults generalize to naturalistic sleep disturbance and clinical populations.

    “In humans, partial sleep deprivation mimics the ubiquitous sleep disturbance found in persons exposed to social adversity or who are aged and most vulnerable to infectious diseases.”
2 of 2

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • The increased TNF production in the morning after sleep deprivation may reflect a rebound effect of sleep, as participants were allowed to sleep in the second night half before morning blood collection.

    “Hence, the findings of increased TNF production in the morning after sleep deprivation by Irwin et al. (256) may reflect a rebound effect of sleep, as participants were allowed to sleep in the second night half before blood was collected in the morning.”

    From The Sleep-Immune Crosstalk in Health and Disease (2019) · cites this paper as [256]

  • Intracellular IL-6 production is not altered acutely during sleep compared with nocturnal wakefulness, but is increased in the morning after one night of partial sleep loss in healthy humans.

    “Intracellular IL-6 production was not altered acutely during sleep compared with nocturnal wakefulness (147), but was increased in the morning after one night of partial sleep loss in healthy humans (89, 256, 262, 264).”

    From The Sleep-Immune Crosstalk in Health and Disease (2019) · cites this paper as [256]

  • Following sleep deprivation in the first night half, TNF production in monocytes and TNF mRNA are increased in the morning.

    “Following sleep deprivation in the first night half, TNF production in monocytes and TNF mRNA were shown to be increased in the morning (256, 262, 264).”

    From The Sleep-Immune Crosstalk in Health and Disease (2019) · cites this paper as [256]

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Partial sleep loss is said both to preserve and reduce IL-2 production

    Major

    One section says IL-2 levels are similar after uninterrupted sleep and partial sleep loss. A later section says partial-night sleep deprivation reduces T-cell production of IL-2.

  • Sleep efficiency is defined in the opposite direction from its later use

    Minor

    The stated ratio of wake time to time in bed would decrease when less time is spent awake. The summary instead treats reduced sleep efficiency as a form of sleep disturbance.

2 of 2

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 11

  1. Afshar R, 2011, Iran J. Kidney Dis., 5, 119
  2. Brown R, 1989, Reg. Immunol., 2, 321
  3. 10.1073/pnas.0509281102 · DOI · Paper page
  4. Irwin M, 1999, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 84, 1979
  5. Irwin MR, 2008, Sleep, 31, 1001
  6. Miller MA, 2009, Sleep, 32, 857
  7. Prather AA, 2012, Sleep, 35, 1063
  8. Redwine L, 2000, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 85, 3597
  9. Renegar KB, 1998, Sleep, 21, 19
  10. Renegar KB, 1998, Sleep, 21, 241
  11. Spath-Schwalbe E, 1998, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 83, 1573

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Irwin, M. R.
Affiliations
University of California, Los Angeles (US)
Corresponding author
Irwin, Michael R.
Venue
Annual Review of Psychology
Published
2015-01-03
Volume
66
Issue
1
Pages
143-172
ISSN
  • 0066-4308 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-2085
OpenAlex
W2125158184
Cited by
1,325
References
202
Citations by year
2026: 165 · 2025: 172 · 2024: 156 · 2023: 153 · 2022: 137 · 2021: 125 · 2020: 155 · 2019: 76 · 2018: 61 · 2017: 54 · 2016: 42 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 3
FWCI
4.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Annual Review of Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (R01AG026364, R01AG034588)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL079955, R01HL095799)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA032922)
  • National Cancer Institute (R01CA160245, R01CA119159)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
Keywords
sleep, sleep disorders, insomnia, sleep restriction, psychoneuroimmunology, adaptive immunity, innate immunity, antiviral immunity, vaccine response, infectious disease risk, pro-inflammatory response, cardiovascular disease, cancer, depression, neuroendocrine regulation, autonomic nervous system, sleep interventions, sleep health
MeSH terms
Humans, Immune System, Inflammation, Psychoneuroimmunology, Sleep, Sleep Wake Disorders

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Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-10.

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