Mohammadjavad Hoseinpourfard - Institute for Cognitive Science Studies,Tehran, Iran; and Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; and International Travel Medicine and Global Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Scie
Mohammad Nasehi - Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran; and Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast - Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran; and Department of Pharmacology School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Morteza Izadi - International Travel Medicine and Global Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Nami - Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Background and Aim: The level of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) changes by REM sleep deprivation. TNF-α is a known biomarker of REM sleep deprivation (RSD). Prior studies have shown that any alteration in REM sleep can increase the amount of TNF-α. Accordingly, the Pain Tolerance Threshold (PTT) is believed to be increased in patients with insomnia after using anti-TNF-α or Infliximab (IFX). The present study aims to demonstrate the effect of IFX and its importance in the pain management of hospital inpatients. Methods and Materials/Patients: Seventy-two male Wistar rats in ۹ groups were studied after obtaining the approval of the ethics committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (CNS.Protocol-ICSS-۹۴۰۸۱۶). Remicade was used for inducing the anti-TNF-α. Multiple platform water-tank was used for REM sleep deprivation induction. Pain tolerance was measured on a hot plate apparatus. Results: There was a significant increase in the duration of the rats’ tolerance on the hot plate between the saline group and the group that received IFX (۰.۲ mg/kg) (F۲ = ۸.۳۶۳) (P = <۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: Chronic SD can cause neuronal damage due to neuroinflammatory insult. REM sleep deprivation, in the long run, sensitizes the brain to neurodegenerative insults via the inflammatory mechanism, to some extent through the TNFα-associated pathways.

Pain, Sleep, REM, Immunity System, Anti-TNF-α, Hot-Plate Test, Infliximab