Plasma sCD36 as non-circadian marker of chronic circadian disturbance in shift workers

PLoS One. 2019 Oct 24;14(10):e0223522. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223522. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Shift work induces chronic circadian disturbance, which might result in increased health risks, including cardio-metabolic diseases. Previously, we identified sCD36 as a potential non-circadian biomarker of chronic circadian disturbance in mice. The aim of the current study (n = 232 individuals) was to identify whether sCD36 measured in plasma can be used as a non-circadian marker of chronic circadian disturbance in humans, which would allow its use to measure the effects of interventions and monitoring in large-scale studies. We compared levels of plasma sCD36 of day workers with recent (< 2 years) and experienced (> 5 years) night-shift workers within the Klokwerk study. We detected no differences in sCD36 levels between day workers and recent or experienced night-shift workers, measured during a day or afternoon shift. In addition, sCD36 levels measured directly after a night shift were not different from sCD36 levels measured during day or afternoon shifts, indicating no acute effect of night shifts on sCD36 levels in our study. In summary, our study does not show a relation between night-shift work experience (recent or long-term) and plasma levels of sCD36. Since we do not know if and for which time span night-shift work is associated with changes in sCD36 levels, and our study was relatively small and cross-sectional, further evidence for an association between chronic circadian disruption and this candidate biomarker sCD36 should be gathered from large cohort studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers*
  • CD36 Antigens / blood*
  • Circadian Rhythm*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Shift Work Schedule*
  • Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / blood*
  • Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / etiology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • CD36 Antigens

Grants and funding

Funding for this project was provided by Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, the Netherlands and the RIVM Strategic Program project S133008. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.