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Evening exposure to blue light stimulates the expression of the clock gene PER2 in humans
Author(s) -
Cajochen Christian,
Jud Corinne,
Münch Mirjam,
Kobialka Szymon,
WirzJustice Anna,
Albrecht Urs
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2006.04613.x
Subject(s) - per2 , circadian rhythm , evening , gene expression , biology , circadian clock , blue light , clock , gene , endocrinology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , optics , physics , astronomy
We developed a non‐invasive method to measure and quantify human circadian PER2 gene expression in oral mucosa samples and show that this gene oscillates in a circadian (= about a day) fashion. We also have the first evidence that induction of human PER2 expression is stimulated by exposing subjects to 2 h of light in the evening. This increase in PER2 expression was statistically significant in comparison to a non‐light control condition only after light at 460 nm (blue) but not after light exposure at 550 nm (green). Our results indicate that the non‐image‐forming visual system is involved in human circadian gene expression. The demonstration of a functional circadian machinery in human buccal samples and its response to light opens the door for investigation of human circadian rhythms at the gene level and their associated disorders.