Seasonal and daytime variation in multiple immune parameters in humans: evidence from 329,261 participants of the UK Biobank Cohort

Wyse, C., O’Malley, G., Coogan, A. N., McConkey, S. and Smith, D. J. (2021) Seasonal and daytime variation in multiple immune parameters in humans: evidence from 329,261 participants of the UK Biobank Cohort. iScience, 24(4), 102255. (doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102255) (PMID:33817568) (PMCID:PMC8010467)

Abstract

Seasonal disease outbreaks are perennial features of human infectious disease but the factors generating these patterns are unclear. Here we investigate seasonal and daytime variability in multiple immune parameters in 329,261 participants in UK Biobank, and test for associations with a wide range of environmental and lifestyle factors, including changes in day length, outdoor temperature and vitamin D at the time the blood sample was collected. Seasonal patterns were evident in lymphocyte and neutrophil counts, and CRP, but not monocytes, and these were independent of lifestyle, demographic and environmental factors. All the immune parameters assessed demonstrated significant daytime variation that was independent of confounding factors. At a population level, human immune parameters vary across season and across time of day, independent of multiple confounding factors. Both season and time of day are fundamental dimensions of immune function that should be considered in all studies of immuno-prophylaxis and disease transmission.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Smith, Professor Daniel
• Authors: Wyse, C., O’Malley, G., Coogan, A. N., McConkey, S., and Smith, D. J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: iScience
• Publisher: Elsevier (Cell Press)
• ISSN: 2589-0042
• ISSN (Online): 2589-0042
• Published Online: 01 March 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in iScience 24(4): 102255
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
302957		Mental Health Data Pathfinder	Daniel Smith	Medical Research Council (MRC)	MC_PC_17217	HW - Mental Health and Wellbeing