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In a groundbreaking study led by scientists from Washington State University (WSU) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), it has been revealed that just a few days on a night shift schedule can significantly disrupt protein rhythms crucial for blood glucose regulation, energy metabolism, and inflammation. These findings shed light on why night shift workers are more susceptible to chronic metabolic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and other related disorders.
The study, published in the Journal of Proteome Research, underscores the intricate interplay between biological rhythms and the detrimental effects of shift work on health. Senior study author, Professor Hans Van Dongen from the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, explains, “There are processes tied to the master biological clock in our brain that are saying that day is day and night is night and other processes that follow rhythms set elsewhere in the body that say night is day and day is night. When internal rhythms are dysregulated, you have this enduring stress in your system that we believe has long-term health consequences.”
Conducted through a controlled laboratory experiment, volunteers were subjected to simulated night or day shift schedules for three days. Following their final shift, participants underwent a 24-hour period of wakefulness under constant conditions to analyze their internal biological rhythms. Blood samples taken at regular intervals were scrutinized to identify proteins within blood-based immune system cells.
The study revealed profound disruptions in protein rhythms among night shift participants compared to their counterparts on day shifts. Particularly alarming was the near-complete reversal of glucose rhythms observed in night shift workers. Processes vital for insulin production and sensitivity, crucial for maintaining healthy glucose levels, became desynchronized in these individuals.
Jason McDermott, a computational scientist at PNNL’s Biological Sciences Division, highlights the significance of the findings, stating, “What we showed is that we can really see a difference in molecular patterns between volunteers with normal schedules and those with schedules that are misaligned with their biological clock.”
Despite the resilience of the master biological clock to altered shift schedules, the study underscores the profound impact of disrupted protein rhythms on metabolic health. While further research is warranted to explore real-world implications, the study suggests the possibility of early intervention strategies to mitigate the risks faced by night shift workers.
The researchers intend to delve deeper by studying long-term shift workers to ascertain whether night shifts induce similar protein changes over extended periods, thus paving the way for targeted interventions to safeguard the health of these individuals.
