Longevity & AgingIL-6 Shapes Circadian and Metabolic Rhythms Differently in Males and Females
Researchers studying IL-6 knockout mice found that loss of this cytokine disrupts circadian locomotor activity, energy expenditure, and metabolic rhythms in ways that differ strikingly between sexes and dietary conditions. Males show weakened light-driven rhythms and metabolic misalignment linked to reduced VIP neuropeptide in the SCN. Females maintain circadian stability under normal light cycles but become more vulnerable under intrinsic challenges or high-fat diet. IL-6 also emerged as a novel regulator of the food-entrainable oscillator, influencing food anticipatory behavior in a sex-specific way. These findings position IL-6 as a critical bridge between immune signaling, circadian biology, and metabolic homeostasis.
