Wednesday, December 03, 2014

Virginia Tech researchers connect sleep cycle, cancer incidence

There are studies that indicate insufficient sleep increases the risk of getting cancer.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-12/vt-vtr120314.php

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 3-Dec-2014

Contact: Lindsay Taylor Key
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech researchers connect sleep cycle, cancer incidence
Protein that regulates sleep cycle may offer cancer protection

People who work around the clock could actually be setting themselves back, according to Virginia Tech biologists.

Researchers found that a protein responsible for regulating the body's sleep cycle, or circadian rhythm, also protects the body from developing sporadic forms of cancers.

"The protein, known as human period 2, has impaired function in the cell when environmental factors, including sleep cycle disruption, are altered," said Carla Finkielstein, an associate professor of biological sciences in the College of Science, Fralin Life Science Institute affiliate, and a Virginia Bioinformatics Institute Fellow.

•••••

No comments:

Post a Comment