Inflammatory Long Pentraxin 3 is Associated with Leukocyte Telomere Length in Night-Shift Workers

Abstract

Aging is an emerging worldwide threat to public health, even in the workplace, as it links with risk of illness and death. Bewildered inflammatory responses and stressful conditions associate with age-related disorders. Additionally, circadian rhythm disruption, a critical health issue in night-shift workers, correlates with premature aging. We investigated the hypothesis of a link between altered inflammatory response, detected by plasmatic long pentraxin 3 (PTX3), and biological aging, measured by leukocyte telomere length (LTL), attrition, and possibly induced by night-shift work. Within the framework of a cross-sectional study, such possible relationships were appraised by simultaneous equation model (SEM) technique among day and night-shift hospital workers. PTX3 levels, modulated by several aging conditions [i.e., body mass index (BMI) (beta = −0.22; p = 0.022), C-reactive protein (CRP) (beta = −0.07; p = 0.000), and cardiovascular diseases with hypertension included (CVD) (beta = −0.12; p = 0.000)], positively associate with LTL (coefficient = 0.15; p = 0.033). LTL, in turn is reduced by CVD (beta = −0.15; p = 0.000), binge drinking (beta = −0.10; p = 0.004), and CRP (beta = −0.05; p = 0.026). On the other hand, night-shift work, found to be remarkably free from aging risk factors [i.e., age (beta = −0.13; p = 0.017), BMI (beta = −0.17; p = 0.030), CVD (beta = −0.14; p = 0.000), and binge drinking (beta = −0.13; p = 0.000)], does associate almost significantly with reversed PTX3 (coefficient = −0.09; p = 0.089) and even with CRP (beta = 0.17; p = 0.000). In conclusion, the SEM analysis indicates that PTX3 is positively linked to LTL. The finding suggests a possible new role of this long pentraxin that, by orchestrating an efficient governance of inflammatory processes, may protect telomere from attrition, ensuring therefore the genetic stability of cells. The higher CRP levels among night-shift workers suggest that night-shift work is associated with increased systemic inflammation. This would make nocturnal workers more susceptible to premature aging.

Telomere Length as a Biomarker of Biological Aging in Shift Workers

“…Results seem to be a "curve" of erosion; at the beginning of the work, the telomeres are shortening the first "peak", the second after many years of work (in mature age). This could be due to the influence of circadian rhythms on telomerase activity [55]; inflammation activity has been proven by Pavanello et al in two investigations [56,59]. Another evidence was done by Samulin Erdem and colleagues [57] that observed the telomere shortening correlated with the duration and intensity of SW and may be a contributing factor for breast cancer risk among the female workforce.…”

“…The investigation carried out by Pavanello et al [56] suggests a probable role of Long Pentraxin 3, an acute-phase protein, an inflammatory process due to SW. Furthermore, SW is correlated with short telomere length and with increased systemic inflammation (coefficient = 0.15; p = 0.033), so those shift workers are more susceptible to premature aging [56].…”

“…To date, the information base on telomere length as a biomarker in occupational setting seems to be growing. Telomere shortening is correlated with SW and long duration of work [54][55][56][57][58][59][60].…”

“…Early evidence from studies in SW [54][55][56][57][58][59][60] points out that SW may have due effects on aging and telomere length, in particular with the intensity of SW.…”

“…Seven were ruled out after subsequent review of title and abstract, and six studies were disqualified after review of the manuscript. Finally, seven studies satisfied the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review [54][55][56][57][58][59][60]. A flow-chart depicting the choice of studies is revealed in Figure 1.…”