In healthy adults deprived of sleep for five nights, taking 81 mg of aspirin daily reduces the rise in certain white blood cells and lowers the CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio compared to taking no medication.
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
Aspirin blocks a key enzyme that triggers immune cell release during sleep loss. This stops too many eosinophils and basophils from entering the blood and fixes the imbalance between two types of T-cells. The same action delays cleanup of another immune cell type, but that does not affect the main...
Most probable mechanism
Aspirin blocks a key enzyme that makes inflammatory signals called prostaglandins. Without these signals, the bone marrow releases fewer eosinophils and basophils into the blood, and the balance between two types of T-cells shifts back toward normal. This stops the immune system from overreacting when sleep is lost.
Acetylsalicylic acid irreversibly inhibits cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 enzymes in immune and endothelial cells.
Inhibition of cyclooxygenase reduces synthesis of prostaglandin E2 and other pro-inflammatory lipid mediators.
Reduced prostaglandin E2 decreases chemotactic signaling from tissues and bone marrow, limiting recruitment and release of eosinophils and basophils into circulation.
Lower prostaglandin E2 levels reduce preferential activation and proliferation of CD4+ T cells while preserving CD8+ T-cell function, normalizing the CD4/CD8 ratio.
Less supported by current evidence, but not ruled out
Aspirin reduces inflammation but also interferes with the body's natural cleanup process for immune cells, causing monocytes to remain elevated longer than usual after sleep loss.
Sleep deprivation increases monocyte mobilization from bone marrow via interleukin-6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.
Acetylsalicylic acid suppresses cyclooxygenase-dependent synthesis of pro-resolving lipid mediators such as lipoxins.
Impaired resolution signaling delays monocyte clearance from circulation or their differentiation into macrophages, prolonging peripheral monocyte elevation.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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The Effect of Low-Dose Acetylsalicylic Acid on Cellular Immune Responses to Experimental Sleep Restriction in Healthy Humans
Contradicting (0)
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