Skubic Cene, Zevnik Urša, Nahtigal Katarina, Dolenc Grošelj Leja, Rozman Damjana
Center for Functional Genomics and Bio-Chips, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška cesta 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Institute of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Biomolecules. 2025 Jul 14;15(7):1006. doi: 10.3390/biom15071006.
Circadian rhythms are intrinsic, with roughly 24 h oscillations that coordinate many physiological functions and are increasingly recognized as key determinants of human health. When these rhythms become misaligned, there is an increased risk for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, metabolic syndrome, sleep disturbances, and even certain cancers. The hormones, melatonin that rises in the evening and cortisol that peaks shortly after awakening, represent crucial biochemical markers of the circadian phase. This review systematically evaluates contemporary techniques for quantifying melatonin and cortisol, comparing biological matrices (blood, saliva, urine) alongside analytical platforms. Special focus is placed on two clinically informative markers: Dim Light Melatonin Onset (DLMO) and the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR). We compared immunoassays with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC MS/MS), highlighting differences in sensitivity, specificity, and laboratory feasibility. Potential confounders, including ambient light, body posture, and exact sampling times-are discussed in detail, to show the capacity of providing the most reliable results. By emphasizing the need for standardized protocols and controlled sampling conditions, this review provides essential guidance for researchers and clinicians aiming to assess the circadian biomarkers melatonin and cortisol with precision since they can be used in clinical practice as diagnostic and prognostic tools for assessing numerous pathologies.
昼夜节律是内在的,具有大约24小时的振荡,可协调许多生理功能,并且越来越被认为是人类健康的关键决定因素。当这些节律失调时,神经退行性疾病、精神疾病、代谢综合征、睡眠障碍甚至某些癌症的风险就会增加。激素中,晚上升高的褪黑素和醒来后不久达到峰值的皮质醇,是昼夜节律阶段的关键生化标志物。本综述系统地评估了用于量化褪黑素和皮质醇的当代技术,比较了生物基质(血液、唾液、尿液)以及分析平台。特别关注两个具有临床信息价值的标志物:暗光褪黑素起始(DLMO)和皮质醇觉醒反应(CAR)。我们将免疫测定法与液相色谱串联质谱法(LC MS/MS)进行了比较,突出了它们在灵敏度、特异性和实验室可行性方面的差异。详细讨论了包括环境光、身体姿势和精确采样时间在内的潜在混杂因素,以展示提供最可靠结果的能力。通过强调标准化方案和受控采样条件的必要性,本综述为旨在精确评估昼夜生物标志物褪黑素和皮质醇的研究人员和临床医生提供了重要指导,因为它们可在临床实践中用作评估多种疾病的诊断和预后工具。