Chronic alteration of circadian rhythm is related to impaired lung function and immune response

• Published in: International journal of clinical practice (Esher) Vol. 74; no. 10; pp. e13590 - n/a
• Main Authors: Aquino‐Santos, Hélida C., Tavares‐Vasconcelos, Jeanne S., Brandão‐Rangel, Maysa A. R., Araújo‐Rosa, Amanda C., Morais‐Felix, Rayssa T., Oliveira‐Freitas, Simone, Santa‐Rosa, Fernando A., Oliveira, Luís V. F., Bachi, André L. L., Alves, Thiago G. G., Frade‐Barros, Amanda F., Frison, Claudio R., Vieira, Rodolfo P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Hindawi Limited 01.10.2020
• Subjects: Adult; Circadian rhythm; Circadian Rhythm - physiology; Circadian rhythms; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Immune response (humoral); Immunity; Leukocytes; Lungs; Male; Middle Aged; Nitric oxide; Occupational Diseases - diagnosis; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Physical activity; Police; Police - statistics & numerical data; Pulmonary Gas Exchange - physiology; Respiration Disorders - diagnosis; Respiration Disorders - etiology; Respiratory function; Risk Factors; Sleep and wakefulness; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1368-5031; 1742-1241
• DOI: 10.1111/ijcp.13590

Background Alterations of the circadian rhythm negatively impact several aspects of the health, including the lung function. Chronic shiftwork scale classically induces alterations in the circadian rhythm. However, its effects on pulmonary immune response are unknown. Aims To evaluate the impact of chronic alteration of circadian rhythm on pulmonary function and immune response. Methods In this context, a 12 × 24 hours and 12 × 48 hours work scale in shiftwork scale policemen (n = 25; 38.73 ± 6.92 years old) were compared with fixed work scale (8 h/d) civil men (n = 25; 34.00 ± 9.60 years old) who were evaluated for perceived stress, sleepiness, physical activity levels, anthropometric characteristics, lung function, pulmonary and systemic cellular and humoral immune response. Results Policemen presented increased levels of perceived stress (P < .0008), impaired sleepiness (P < .04) and lung function as demonstrated by reduced forced vital capacity (FVC) (P < .053) and FEV1 (P < .043) when compared with civil men. In addition, increased levels of exhaled nitric oxide (P < .037) and of IL‐2 (P < .0046) in the breath condensate revealed that policemen presented chronic lung inflammation compared with civil men. Although the whole blood analysis did not showed any differences between the two groups concerning the number of leucocytes, the humoral response revealed that policemen presented increased levels of IL‐2 (P < .002) and lower levels of IL‐10 (P < .001), clearly displaying a clinical status of low‐grade inflammation. Conclusions Chronic alteration of circadian rhythm in shiftwork scale policemen results in impaired lung function, beyond to impair pulmonary and systemic immune function.