Effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on night sleep in humans

Experimental evidence shows that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) inhibits sleep intensity by increasing circulating amounts of endogenous antagonists of interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha activity. This was gleaned from a single-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of G-CSF on the plasma concentrations of cytokines, hormones, soluble cytokine receptors and night sleep. Results underscored the involvement of cytokines in sleep regulation in humans.