Congratulations to Kevin Koronowski, PhD and his lab on their publication in Journal of Biological Rhythms!
A new study from the lab of Kevin Koronowski, PhD, looks at the effect of chronic jet lag in mice on their behavior and metabolism dysfunction in the liver. This study shows that misalignment of the normal circadian rhythm can have long-term functional consequences that may deteriorate aging health. Dr. Koronowski is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology and an investigator with the Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies.
Frequent Shifts During Chronic Jet Lag Uncouple Liver Rhythms From the Light Cycle in Male Mice
Qing Zhang, Christopher Litwin, Kristi Dietert, Ioannis Tsialtas, Wan Hsi Chen, Zhihong Li, Kevin B Koronowski
J Biol Rhythms. 2025 Apr;40(2):194-207. doi: 10.1177/07487304241311328. Epub 2025 Jan 8.
Abstract:
Circadian disruption is pervasive in modern society and associated with increased risk of disease. Chronic jet lag paradigms are popular experimental tools aiming to emulate human circadian disruption experienced during rotating and night shift work. Chronic jet lag induces metabolic phenotypes tied to liver and systemic functions, yet lack of a clear definition for how rhythmic physiology is impaired under these conditions hinders the ability to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, we compared 2 common chronic jet lag paradigms and found that neither induced arrythmicity of the liver and each had distinct effects on rhythmicity. Instead, more frequent 8-h forward shifts of the light schedule induced more severe misalignment and non-fasted hyperglycemia. Every other day shifts eventually uncoupled behavioral and hepatic rhythms from the light cycle, reminiscent of free-running conditions. These results point to misalignment, not arrhythmicity, as the initial disturbance tied to metabolic dysfunction in environmental circadian disruption and highlight considerations for the interpretation and design of chronic jet lag studies.
Keywords: chronic jet lag; circadian clock; circadian disruption; circadian metabolism; circadian misalignment; circadian rhythm; glucose homeostasis; liver clock.