Circadian rhythm in restless legs syndrome

Abstract

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor disorder with a obvious circadian rhythm, as its symptoms often occur or worsen only in the evening or at night. The mechanisms behind the rhythms of RLS have not yet been fully elucidated. This review explores possible causes for the circadian fluctuations of the symptomatology, including the levels of iron, dopamine, melatonin, melanocortin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone in the brain, as well as conditions such as peripheral hypoxia and microvascular function disorders. The metabolic disturbances of the substances above can create a pathological imbalance, which is further aggravated by physiological fluctuations of circadian rhythms, and results in the worsening of RLS symptoms at night. The review concludes with the suggestions for RLS treatment and research directions in the future.

1. Introduction

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common sensorimotor disorder characterized by strong and persistent urges to move. It is often accompanied by uncomfortable and varied limb sensations that may be described as creeping, itching, or pulling; these occur or worsen in the evening/night when at rest and may resolve after movement. RLS is often accompanied by periodic limb movements at night, which can result in disturbed sleep architecture and frequent awakenings (1). RLS may cause severe difficulty in falling asleep, poor sleep quality, impaired daytime function, increased incidence of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease (2, 3), and diminished quality of life.

The mechanisms underlying RLS have not yet been fully elucidated. Possible mechanisms include iron deficiency, altered dopaminergic function (4), and specifically increased excitability of the glutamate system in the brain; which can cause central nervous system sensitization and hyperarousal, resulting in sensory disturbances and frequent awakenings (5–7). Adenosine has also been implicated: a severe iron deficiency may downregulate the adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) and upregulate the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR), resulting in a hypoadenosinergic state and an increase of A2ARs that do not form heterodimers with A1Rs, while a milder iron deficiency may only affect A1R. This increases the sensitivity of cortico-striatal glutamatergic terminals and promotes a hyperglutaminergic state (8, 9).

The opioid system is also involved in RLS pathogenesis. Walters et al. found statistically significant reductions in β-endorphin and Met-enkephalin levels of patients with RLS (10). The effectiveness of opioid receptor agonists demonstrate the therapeutic impact of these receptors, and receptor knockdown can cause iron deficiency anemia, dopaminergic disorders, and RLS-like symptoms (11, 12). However, the specific mechanisms must be further investigated. Other studies have focused on hypocretin-1 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) because of its role in physiological rhythms. One study found that hypocretin-1 levels significantly increased during the evening in patients with early-onset RLS (13), while another one failed to find significant differences between hypocretin-1 levels of patients with RLS and control participants during the evening (14). Hypocretin-1 levels show a clear sinusoidal diurnal variation in healthy subjects (15), yet a study of patients with RLS failed to find evidence of a 24-h circadian rhythm in their hypocretin-1 levels (16). These conflicting results show that further research is needed. Genetic polymorphisms may also be a part of the pathogenic mechanism, with the PTPRD, BTBD9, and MEIS1 genes as strong candidates of genetic risk factors for RLS (17, 18). Current pharmacological treatments for RLS include iron supplements, dopamine agonists, α2δ ligands, and opioids; however, these may be ineffective, and the dopamine agonists may even exacerbate the RLS symptoms in some refractory cases (19).

The evening/night-time worsening of symptoms greatly burdens patients with RLS by affecting their sleep quality, emotional state, and daytime function. Exploring the factors affecting RLS could help to clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms of this disorder and identify new therapeutic targets. Here, we illustrate some possible mechanisms that determine the circadian rhythm of RLS symptomatology, including iron deficiency, altered dopamine and hormone secretion, peripheral hypoxia, and impaired microvascular circulation function in the brain.

2. Circadian characteristics of restless legs syndrome

The circadian rhythm of RLS symptoms is clearly observed, since the unpleasant sensations and urge to move occur or become more severe in the evening/night than in the daytime. This rhythm always occurs in the early sleep stages, though if symptoms are severe, the night-time worsening may not be evident (1). The severity of sensory and motor RLS symptoms demonstrates a peak in the early stages of sleep (11 p.m.−4 a.m.) and a nadir during the initial waking period (9 a.m.−2 p.m.); additionally, though symptoms worsen as a result of sleep deprivation, the circadian rhythm appears to be independent of sleepiness, fatigue, or time since the last sleeping period (20–22).

The circadian rhythm of RLS symptoms is closely associated with the circadian clock mediated by the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus. In a case of severe delayed sleep–wake phase disorder and simultaneous RLS in which sleep began at 8 a.m., symptoms of RLS still occurred according to the disrupted circadian rhythm (23). Other studies have reported that RLS symptoms still appeared at the usual time when shift workers first started their night shifts; as the workers' circadian rhythms adapted to the shift work schedule, the onset of symptoms was gradually delayed until it coincided with the time before sleep; moreover, westward cross-temporal flight results in a phase delay of RLS symptoms, whereas eastward cross-temporal flight instead causes an earlier onset of symptoms (24). This may be related to the effect of light on circadian rhythms, and it suggests that RLS symptom onset is independent of the duration of wakefulness; otherwise, cross-temporal flights would have the opposite effect. The circadian rhythm of RLS symptoms has also been significantly correlated with the core body temperature cycle; maximal symptoms occurred at the nadir of the core body-temperature rhythm (20–22). However, core body temperature rhythm does not appear to be altered in patients with RLS, which suggests that the basic circadian rhythm in patients of RLS is not disrupted or altered. Though it may be closely linked to the normal circadian rhythm, the circadian rhythm of RLS may not be directly controlled by the central circadian pacemaker, but instead associated with the diurnal variability of multiple biological factors, which are described in detail below.

3. The role of iron in RLS

3.1. Iron deficiency in the brain and circadian rhythm of iron

Iron is an essential trace element that plays an important role in energy metabolism, hormone synthesis, oxygen transfer, and immunity. It is a crucial component of hemoglobin and enzymes involved in electron transfer and neurotransmitter synthesis. Iron deficiency, especially brain iron, is thought to be the main factor in RLS pathophysiology. RLS prevalence is approximately nine times higher in patients with iron deficiency anemia than that in the general population (25), and intravenous iron supplementation therapy can improve RLS symptoms in some patients (26), which suggests a close association between iron deficiency and RLS symptoms. Patients with RLS have also demonstrated iron deficiencies in the brain; neuropathological autopsies (27) and ultrasound examinations (28) have found reduced iron levels in the substantia nigra of patients with RLS. Another study showed that CSF ferritin levels were significantly lower in patients with RLS than in controls (29). Additionally, MRI studies suggest that reduced iron in the brain may be more prevalent in these patients, particularly in the thalamus, substantia nigra, nucleus accumbens, and pallidum (30, 31). This cerebral iron deficiency may be due to altered expression of the iron regulator hepcidin and an iron management protein profile (such as transferrin and its receptor) in the epithelial cells of the choroid plexus and brain microvasculature of patients with RLS. Subsequent dysfunctions in iron transportation from the serum to the brain, cellular iron uptake, and blood iron homeostasis (32–35) result in brain iron deficiency. Due to complex regulatory mechanisms, measurements of peripheral iron status show no directly association with brain iron levels; systemic iron deficiency may lead to reduced brain iron only in specific regions and in certain individuals, and brain iron deficiency can also be present in individuals with normal peripheral iron (36), which create difficulties for assessing the degree of deficiency.

Circadian rhythm of iron is closely related to the circadian rhythm of RLS. Unger et al. reported a notable circadian rhythm of increasing iron levels in the ventral midbrain during sleep, with maximum levels in mid-morning and minimum levels during evening hours (37–39). Also, Earley et al. (29) found that CSF ferritin levels of patients with RLS at 10 a.m. (reflecting night-time brain iron status) were lower than those at 10 p.m. (reflecting afternoon brain iron status). Sleep deprivation may also decrease the mean level of iron and reduce the absolute and relative amplitudes of its circadian oscillations (40), supporting the link between RLS symptoms and sleep deprivation (21). Therefore, the nadir of iron levels due to circadian rhythms may be related to the occurrence or aggravation of RLS symptoms during the evening or at night.

3.2. Brain iron deficiency and dopaminergic system disorder

Iron deficiency also causes dysfunction of the dopaminergic system; dopaminergic disorders and the circadian rhythm of dopamine can then combine to cause a worsening of RLS symptoms at night. Patients with RLS demonstrate higher dopamine levels in the synaptic gap and lower levels in the intracellular space than those of controls; they also demonstrate reduced density of dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) in the putamen and dopamine reuptake receptors, according to previous studies using samples from CSF (41), post-mortem tissue (42), and animals (43). These dopaminergic changes result from iron deficiency in the brain, which can lead to high levels of dopamine through the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 pathway (4) and downregulation of A1Rs (44). Similar dopaminergic changes were observed in iron-deficient mice and were reduced by administration of exogenous iron to the striatum (43, 45, 46). As with ferritin, dopamine expression also follows a circadian rhythm; levels in plasma typically peak at 8 a.m. and gradually decrease to 60% of the peak between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., with the nadir occurring at ~3 a.m. (47).

Taken together, a model by Earley et al. showed the circadian rhythm of dopamine could cause the nocturnal symptom fluctuations that match the cycle of RLS symptom presence. Iron deficiency could contribute to a presynaptic hyperdopaminergic state, leading to the downregulation of D2Rs as postsynaptic feedback. Due to the diurnal variation of dopamine secretion, the feedback effects also vary dynamically. While this postsynaptic adaptation to increased dopamine stimulation is appropriate during the day when dopamine levels are higher, it appears to overcompensate in the evening when dopamine levels are lower. Excessive downregulation of postsynaptic D2Rs results in weak dopaminergic signaling when dopamine levels are low, creating a relative dopamine deficit despite an overall increase in dopamine. The intensity of the dopaminergic output signal thus varies with the circadian rhythm of dopamine levels, reaching its nadir in the late evening or after sleep onset. The weakening of dopaminergic signaling, particularly D2Rs, can reduce inhibition of painful stimuli and cause dysfunction in pain processing (48, 49) and may lead to increased release of glutamic acid (50, 51). Through these mechanisms, RLS symptoms may be triggered when the dopaminergic output signal falls below a critical threshold. This model could explain why patients experience the mildest RLS symptoms at late night or early morning and the most severe RLS symptoms at evening/night (4).

4. Peripheral hypoxia and impaired microvascular circulation

Since iron is crucial for oxygen transportation, hypoxia and impaired microcirculation are other potential mechanisms of RLS. In patients with RLS, HIF 1-α was higher in the substantia nigra, and HIF 2-α and vascular endothelial growth factor were increased in the microvessels, a possible sign of hypoxia due to iron deficiency (52, 53). Salminen et al. demonstrated that peripheral hypoxia was positively correlated with the presence and severity of RLS (54). Furthermore, impairment of microvascular circulation in patients with RLS has been demonstrated using bilateral great-toe laser Doppler flowmetry, whole-body thermography (55), and ultrasound imaging (56). Near-infrared light therapy is effective in ameliorating nocturnal symptoms by promoting nitric oxide release to improve vasodilation (57, 58), demonstrating the relationship between impaired microvascular circulation and RLS. A circadian rhythm of higher blood flow in the morning than in the evening was observed in the microcirculatory pattern of the tibialis anterior muscle in patients with primary RLS, but not in the control group (59). Thus, altered microcirculation might be another mechanism affecting the circadian rhythm in RLS.

5. Altered hormone secretion

5.1. Melatonin

Melatonin is an amine hormone produced by the pineal gland. Its secretion is influenced by light and has a well-defined circadian rhythm. Actively secreted in the darkness and suppressed during the day, it peaks in the middle of the night (2–4 a.m.) then gradually decreases. However, acute light exposure at night rapidly stops melatonin production (60), whereas in continuous darkness, the melatonin rhythm still remains. Michaud et al. demonstrated that melatonin secretion onset coincided with nocturnal symptom worsening in patients with RLS, and that salivary melatonin levels peaked ~2 h before the peak of sensory or motor symptom severity; moreover, melatonin promotes peripheral vasodilation in humans, leading to a decrease in core body temperature that is associated with the onset of RLS symptoms (20). However, Whittom et al. found that exogenous melatonin administration significantly worsened motor symptoms in patients with RLS, whereas inhibition of endogenous melatonin by strong light exposure at night improved sensory symptoms (61), which contrasted with melatonin's reported role in reducing neuropathic pain (62). Melatonin can inhibit the release of dopamine by suppressing the influx of calcium into stimulated nerve endings, while the suprachiasmatic nuclei modulates the sensitivity of dopaminergic neurons to melatonin (63); this may contribute to the relative evening/night-time dopamine deficits in RLS, exacerbating motor and sensory symptoms. Only a few studies have investigated this aspect; current results show that melatonin secretion patterns in patients with RLS are not significantly different than those in controls (20). Therefore, melatonin may be involved only as an upstream regulator of other pathways that influence the RLS circadian rhythms, though the specific mechanism requires further investigation.

5.2. Melanocortin

The alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone are centrally-acting melanocortins produced by hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin neurons. Their secretion also has a circadian rhythm, with a nocturnal peak occurring overnight (64). In menopausal women and rat models, exogenous melanocortin administration induced dose-dependent RLS-like symptoms, such as increased motor impulses, hyperactivity, sleep fragmentation, and periodic limb movements (65, 66). Melanocortins act as endogenous anti-opioids, and exogenous administration can lead to hyperalgesia in rats (67–69). Melanocortin secretion can be inhibited by dopamine, which blocks RNA synthesis of the melanocortin precursor pro-opiomelanocortin in the hypothalamus via D2Rs (70). The D2R downregulation seen in RLS may lead to hypersecretion of MSH (especially at night), potentially aggravating RLS symptoms. Therefore, disrupted MSH secretion is a likely mechanism underlying the night-time worsening of RLS symptoms; however, no study has directly examined the association between changes in endogenous MSH levels and the circadian rhythm of RLS symptoms. Further research is needed to determine the role of MSH in the pathophysiological mechanisms of RLS.

5.3. Thyroid-stimulating hormone

The thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is a pituitary-derived hormone composed of α and β subunit genes. Regulated by the suprachiasmatic nuclei, TSH also follows a defined circadian rhythm of rising in the evening before sleep onset and peaking at night between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., followed by a gradual decrease to a day-time minimum between 3 and 7 p.m. (71–73). This pattern is consistent with the circadian symptomatology in patients with RLS. Patients with hypothyroidism have poor sleep quality, as measured by prolonged sleep latency, long N1 and N2 phases, and short N3 and REM phases (74, 75).

TSH alterations may represent a pathophysiological mechanism of RLS. Geng et al. demonstrated that TSH levels are elevated in patients with RLS when compared to healthy controls and found TSH to be positively correlated with International Restless Legs Scale scores and negatively correlated with sleep quality (76). Ahmed et al. reported a correlation between RLS and hypothyroidism, with a significantly high prevalence of RLS in patients with hypothyroidism and a significantly high prevalence of hypothyroidism in patients with RLS (77).

The elevated TSH levels in patients with RLS may be related to the following mechanisms: first, dopamine can reduce TSH formation by inhibiting transcription and translation of the TSH β-subunit, mediated by the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (78); thus, the hypodopaminergic state in patients with RLS may lead to excessive TSH release. Second, iron deficiency can impair the heme-dependent thyroid peroxidase, reducing the synthesis of thyroid hormones and increasing TSH via feedback dysregulation (79, 80). The strong correlation between elevated TSH levels and RLS suggests that a TSH secretion imbalance may contribute to the circadian rhythmicity of RLS symptoms. However, further research is needed, as there are no studies specifically on the synchronization of RLS symptoms and the circadian rhythm of TSH secretion.

6. Treatment

Iron-replacement therapy is considered for all patients with RLS upon initial treatment and is administered if transferrin saturation levels are ≤ 45%. Oral iron treatment is generally safe and well-tolerated, and should be considered for serum ferritin levels of ≤ 75 μg/L in an adult or < 50 μg/L in a child; intravenous treatment is considered for adults with serum ferritin levels of 75–100 μg/L (36). Dopamine agonists and α2δ ligands are prescribed for use one to 2 h before the regular onset of RLS symptoms. Dopamine agonists bind to dopamine receptors and mimics the actions of dopamine to counteract the downregulation of dopaminergic output signal from the relative dopamine deficit during the evening, while α2δ ligands bind with high affinity to the α2δ-1 subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels, resulting in the reduced release of glutamic acid (81, 82). Meanwhile, dipyridamole is a novel and non-selective equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1/equilibrative nucleoside transporter 2 adenosine transporter antagonist that may counteract the hypoadenosinergic state in patients with RLS to reduce symptoms (83).

Non-pharmacologic treatment by pneumatic-compression devices or near-infrared light therapy can improve microvascular circulation during the night to relieve RLS symptoms (58, 84, 85). Standard acupuncture may be another safe alternative treatment (86). However, large-scale and adequately powered randomized controlled trials are required to estimate the efficacy of these approaches. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation applied in the evening may provide relief for RLS symptoms by promoting dopamine release (87), while continuous transcutaneous direct current stimulation to the spinal cord may provide lasting symptom improvement (88). Yoga and night-time cold-water immersion of the legs can also reduce symptoms and severity, although the exact mechanism is unclear (89–91). Subclinical hypothyroidism may also require assessment before developing a treatment plan. Moreover, patients with RLS may have individualized circadian rhythms in which the exacerbation of symptoms occurs at fixed times or seasons; further study of these factors could guide clinical treatment (92).

7. Conclusion and prospect

The circadian rhythm of RLS is related to several complex mechanisms (Figure 1). Initially, iron deficiency in the brain causes dopaminergic system dysfunction and hyperglutaminergic, hypoadenosinergic, and peripheral hypoxic states. These alterations result in downstream decreases of. dopamine-mediated inhibition, central nervous system sensitization, hyperarousal, and imbalance in the secretion of hormones with circadian rhythms, such as melatonin, melanocortin, and TSH. The pre-existing pathological imbalance is further aggravated by physiological oscillations from circadian rhythms, resulting in symptoms that worsen at night. Standard treatments include iron supplements, dopamine agonists, α2δ ligands and opioids; while some emerging therapies have demonstrated efficacy, further evidence of their mechanism of action is still needed.

Figure 1.

Diagram of circadian rhythm mechanism in restless legs syndrome. The red arrows represent pathological changes and the green arrows represent physiological changes in the night due to circadian rhythms. Dotted lines represent unknown mechanisms.

In addition, other factors may affect the circadian rhythm in RLS. Recent research has also found evidence of a circadian rhythm in spinal cord excitability with RLS (93, 94), which may be related to the decrease in supraspinal inhibition mediated by the dopaminergic nucleus A11 of the hypothalamus (95). Meanwhile, the diurnal disturbances of the default mode network may also be related to the circadian rhythm of RLS, especially circadian connectivity changes to the thalamus (96). Although a hyperglutamatergic state is well-established in RLS patients, available studies were conducted in the morning (7) and no studies have attempted to clarify whether glutamate levels are further elevated at night owing to circadian oscillations of iron or dopamine. These factors may represent targets for further research to clarify the mechanisms of circadian rhythm in RLS. Accurate assessment of the circadian rhythm characteristics for each patient with RLS also requires further research.

Author contributions

MT reviewed the literature, wrote drafts of the manuscript, and prepared the figure. QS adjusted the structure of the article and participated in the rewriting of some paragraphs during the revision of the manuscript. YZ and HL helped in designing and revising of the literature review. ZW supervised the work. YW and DW provided constructive advice. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Funding Statement

This article was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82071489), the Scientific and Technological Innovation 2030 (Grant No. 2021ZD0204300), and the Foundation of the Department of Science and Technology of Jilin Province (Grant No. 20200404093YY and 20190201038JC) to ZW.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.