Circadian clock communication during homeostasis and ageing
Circadian clocks helps to maintain normal homeostasis and execute physiological processes in a manner that anticipates, and thus mitigates, their effects on the organism. Tissue-intrinsic and systemic inputs determine the rhythmicity and functional output of the clocks that are active in most cells.
There is a crosstalk known as clock communication between clocks of different tissues.
Brain hypothalamus maintains the central clock and integrates signals from external light–dark cycles to align peripheral clocks elsewhere in the body. Cellular circadian clock that receives a tissue-specific milieu of external, systemic and niche inputs and modulate and cooperate with central clock for a functional output.
Clock communication decay during ageing, and this decline might drive ageing-related morbidities. Dietary, behavioral and pharmacological interventions may offer the possibility to overcome these changes and in turn improve healthspan.
