Validation of Circadian Biomarkers in Patients With Sleep Disorders

Overview

Current methods for assessing circadian timing require sampling over hours (or even up to a day) while the patient is in controlled conditions. The investigators aim to develop a method that can estimate individual circadian time with a single blood sample taken at any time of the day or night. To do this, the investigators will use two state of the art methods, a plasma proteomics-based method to identify a panel of rhythmic proteins (extending our preliminary data) and a whole blood-derived monocyte-based method using a panel of 15 transcripts (to validate and extend a recent study). We will test both methods in a series of patients with circadian rhythm sleep disorders. We will validate separately the proteomics-based biomarker and the monocyte-based transcript biomarker, and also explore whether combining them can improve the accuracy of our timing estimates. In all cases, circadian phase estimates from the biomarker panels will be compared with those derived from plasma or saliva melatonin (the current "gold-standard" circadian phase marker).

Adults who meet ICSD-3 criteria for Advanced Sleep Wake Phase Disorder or Delayed Sleep Wake Phase Disorder will be studied at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Stanford University. The outpatient protocol will consist of two segments: clinic visit and in-home saliva sample collection. For the first segment, the patient participant will be scheduled for a daytime visit to the sleep clinic where they will have blood drawn for protein and monocyte analysis after having kept a sleep diary and worn a wrist activity monitor for at least 1 week. The patient participant will be provided with an at-home saliva sampling kit and instructed in its use, in particular how to maintain appropriate dim light conditions. For the second segment, the patient will be instructed to collect the series of saliva samples on that same evening, collecting a saliva sample each hour beginning 7 hours before their usual bedtime and ending one hour after their usual bedtime. As each sample is collected, the patient participant will document the tube number and clock time on a log that the investigators provide them, and the patient participant will store each sample in a zip lock bag in their home freezer until the next day. After waking the next day, the patient will pack their samples in the insulated shipping box they were provided, along with their sample collection log and freezer packs they were provided, and then they call a courier to pick up the box, which is sent directly to the assay facility. Alternatively, patients may be given the opportunity to come for a single extended visit at the laboratory or clinic. This visit will include the blood sampling for protein and monocyte analysis, followed by 8 hours in which they remain in dim lighting conditions in the lab or clinic and provide a saliva sample each hour. The saliva sampling segment will begin 7 hours before their usual bedtime and ending one hour after their usual bedtime. After the final saliva sample the study will be over and the patient will be allowed to go home.