A recent study highlights how night shift work disrupts protein rhythms linked to blood glucose regulation, energy metabolism, and inflammation, which is critical in developing chronic metabolic conditions. Led by scientists at Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the findings shed light on why night shift workers are more susceptible to conditions like diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic disorders.
The research underscores that our biological clocks, governed by the master clock in the brain, are intricately tied to day-night cycles. When these internal rhythms are thrown off, as observed in individuals on night shift schedules, it creates a sustained stress response in the body, potentially leading to long-term health implications. Professor Hans Van Dongen from WSU’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine emphasises that such dysregulation can manifest in as little as three days, suggesting that early interventions could mitigate risks associated with these health conditions. This hopeful approach may also help reduce the elevated risk of heart disease and stroke commonly seen in night shift workers.
Published in the Journal of Proteome Research, the study involved a controlled experiment where volunteers simulated night or day shifts for three days in a laboratory setting. Following their shifts, participants underwent 24 hours of continuous wakefulness under controlled conditions to assess their biological rhythms independently of external factors like light, temperature, posture, and food intake.
Throughout the study, blood samples were collected at regular intervals and analysed to identify protein profiles within immune system cells. Results indicated that while some proteins closely linked to the master biological clock remained relatively stable, others exhibited significant disruptions in night-shift participants compared to those on daytime schedules.
Proteins involved in glucose regulation were particularly concerning, where night shift participants displayed nearly reversed glucose rhythms. Moreover, processes governing insulin production and sensitivity, crucial for maintaining healthy glucose levels, were desynchronised among night shift workers. This dysregulation may represent a short-term adaptive response to fluctuating glucose levels induced by altered schedules, yet poses potential long-term health risks by compromising cellular and organ function.
Jason McDermott, a computational scientist at PNNL’s Biological Sciences Division, underscored the study’s contribution in detailing molecular-level changes associated with shift work. He highlighted that such effects had yet to be systematically and controlled before this research.
The researchers aim to extend their findings by studying real-world night shift workers to validate these molecular patterns over extended periods. This next phase seeks to establish a more explicit link between prolonged shift work and persistent protein alterations, further informing strategies for mitigating the adverse health effects of irregular work schedules.
More information: Jason E. McDermott et al, Molecular-Level Dysregulation of Insulin Pathways and Inflammatory Processes in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells by Circadian Misalignment, Journal of Proteome Research. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00418
Journal information: Journal of Proteome Research Provided by Washington State University
