CRC 654, Project C04: Effects of sleep on quantitative and qualitative aspects of CD4 T-cell memory

The subproject includes questions on the release of hormones specifically during sleep (e.g. growth hormone, prolactin) and on the migration behavior of T-lymphocytes into lymphoid tissues and the subsequent passages through the different organ compartments.The expression of cytokines and chemokines is regulated by different hormones.The mechanism will be analyzed quantitatively at the mRNA level. The hypothesis that during sleep the cytokine milieu is modified in a way that promotes a protective immune response will finally be tested in the mouse model using the model infection with Leishmania major.