Alterations in Rev-ERBα/BMAL1 ratio and glycated hemoglobin in rotating shift workers: the EuRhythDia study

Acta Diabetologica, vol. 58, pp. 1111–1117

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To detect premature gluco-metabolic defects among night shift workers with disturbances in circadian rhythms. DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed a hypothesis-generating, cross-sectional analysis of anthropometric, metabolic, lipid, and inflammation parameters, comparing active (a-NSW, n = 111) and former (f-NSW, n = 98) rotating night shift workers with diurnal workers (controls, n = 69). All participants were hospital nurses. We also evaluated the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and assessed expression of transcription factors REV-ERBα and BMAL1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as indicators of the molecular clock. RESULTS: Both a-NSW and f-NSW participants had significantly higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and white blood cell counts (WBC) (p < 0.001 for both), PSQI global score (p = 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure levels (p = 0.024) compared with controls. Expression of REV-ERBα/BMAL1 RNA in PBMC was significantly higher in a-NSW (p = 0.05) than in f-NSW or control participants. Multivariate regression analysis showed that working status and PSQI were independent determinants of higher HbA1c levels (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that young, healthy night shift workers show subclinical abnormalities in HbA1c and changes in peripheral clock gene expression.

Authors 15

1. Stefano Rizza

   University of Rome Tor Vergata

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 100133, Rome, Italy

2. Alessio Luzi

   University of Rome Tor Vergata

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 100133, Rome, Italy

3. Maria Mavilio

   University of Rome Tor Vergata

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 100133, Rome, Italy

4. Marta Ballanti

   University of Rome Tor Vergata

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 100133, Rome, Italy

5. Arianna Massimi

   University of Rome Tor Vergata

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 100133, Rome, Italy

6. Ottavia Porzio

   University of Rome Tor Vergata

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

7. Andrea Magrini

   University of Rome Tor Vergata

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

8. Juliane Hannemann

   University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

9. Rossella Menghini

   University of Rome Tor Vergata

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 100133, Rome, Italy

10. Michael Lehrke Aachen Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Aachen

    Universitätsklinikum Aachen

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Aachen, Aachen, Germany

11. Bart Staels

    Inserm · Université de Lille · Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille · Institut Pasteur de Lille · Récepteurs Nucléaires, Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires

    Affiliation as printed

    Univ. Lille, INSERM, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1011 - EGID, F-59000, Lille, France

12. Peter J. Grant

    University of Leeds

    Affiliation as printed

    Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, England

13. Rainer H. Böger

    University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

14. Nikolaus Marx Aachen Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Aachen

    Universitätsklinikum Aachen

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Aachen, Aachen, Germany

15. Massimo Federici corresponding

    University of Rome Tor Vergata

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 100133, Rome, Italy. federicm@uniroma2.it

    Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 100133, Rome, Italy