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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Translational Psychiatry

Attenuated PER3 amplitude in hair follicles is associated with sleep irregularity in schizophrenia

  • Mikkel E. I. Kolind1,2,3,4
  • Rikke Kruse1,5
  • Jan C. Brønd6
  • Afsaneh M. Nejad7
  • Lasse K. Bak8,9,10
  • Charlotte S. Larsen8,9,10
  • Kurt Højlund1,5
  • Christoph P. Beier11
  • Elsebeth Stenager2,12
  • Claus B. Juhl1,2,3,4
12 affiliations
  1. 1Steno Diabetes Center Odense, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
  2. 2Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
  3. 3Open Patient data Explorative Network - OPEN, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
  4. 4Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark
  5. 5Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
  6. 6Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
  7. 7Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
  8. 8Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
  9. 9Translational Research Center (TRACE), Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
  10. 10Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  11. 11Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
  12. 12Research Unit, Mental Health South West, Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Aabenraa, Denmark
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Abstract

Circadian dysregulation is prevalent in both schizophrenia and obesity, yet the molecular mechanisms underpinning these disturbances remain unclear. We examined circadian variation in clock gene expression using repeated hair follicle self-sampling across two days in 66 adults: 22 with schizophrenia and obesity (SCH-OB), 22 with obesity but no psychiatric disorder (OB), and 22 normal-weight controls (LEAN). Gene expression was quantified by qPCR, and complementary markers included salivary cortisol and melatonin, oral pH and temperature, and accelerometer-derived sleep metrics. Evidence of rhythmic expression was detected in five of six clock genes. PER3 amplitude was significantly reduced in SCH-OB compared with both OB and LEAN (p < 0.01) and correlated positively with sleep regularity (p = 0.006). Cortisol rhythms were preserved across groups, whereas melatonin amplitude was attenuated in SCH-OB relative to LEAN (p < 0.05). Hair follicle sampling proved highly feasible, with >98% compliance. These findings indicate that individuals with schizophrenia exhibit dampened circadian rhythms in PER3 expression that parallel irregular sleep patterns, supporting hair follicle–based sampling as a practical tool for assessing molecular rhythm parameters in real-world conditions.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{kolind2026attenuated,
  title = {{Attenuated PER3 amplitude in hair follicles is associated with sleep irregularity in schizophrenia}},
  author = {Mikkel E. I. Kolind and Rikke Kruse and Jan C. Brønd and Afsaneh M. Nejad and Lasse K. Bak and Charlotte S. Larsen and Kurt Højlund and Christoph P. Beier and Elsebeth Stenager and Claus B. Juhl},
  journal = {Translational Psychiatry},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1038/s41398-026-04295-w},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-026-04295-w},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Attenuated PER3 amplitude in hair follicles is associated with sleep irregularity in schizophrenia
AU  - Mikkel E. I. Kolind
AU  - Rikke Kruse
AU  - Jan C. Brønd
AU  - Afsaneh M. Nejad
AU  - Lasse K. Bak
AU  - Charlotte S. Larsen
AU  - Kurt Højlund
AU  - Christoph P. Beier
AU  - Elsebeth Stenager
AU  - Claus B. Juhl
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/29
JO  - Translational Psychiatry
DO  - 10.1038/s41398-026-04295-w
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-026-04295-w
AB  - Circadian dysregulation is prevalent in both schizophrenia and obesity, yet the molecular mechanisms underpinning these disturbances remain unclear. We examined circadian variation in clock gene expression using repeated hair follicle self-sampling across two days in 66 adults: 22 with schizophrenia and obesity (SCH-OB), 22 with obesity but no psychiatric disorder (OB), and 22 normal-weight controls (LEAN). Gene expression was quantified by qPCR, and complementary markers included salivary cortisol and melatonin, oral pH and temperature, and accelerometer-derived sleep metrics. Evidence of rhythmic expression was detected in five of six clock genes. PER3 amplitude was significantly reduced in SCH-OB compared with both OB and LEAN (p < 0.01) and correlated positively with sleep regularity (p = 0.006). Cortisol rhythms were preserved across groups, whereas melatonin amplitude was attenuated in SCH-OB relative to LEAN (p < 0.05). Hair follicle sampling proved highly feasible, with >98% compliance. These findings indicate that individuals with schizophrenia exhibit dampened circadian rhythms in PER3 expression that parallel irregular sleep patterns, supporting hair follicle–based sampling as a practical tool for assessing molecular rhythm parameters in real-world conditions.
SN  - 2158-3188
ER  -