Night shift work and immune response to the meningococcal conjugate vaccine in healthy workers: a proof of concept study

Author(s):Show less -

Ruiz, Francieli S. ^{[1, 2]} ; Rosa, Daniela S. ^[3] ; Zimberg, Iona Z. ^[2] ; dos Santos Quaresma, Marcus V. L. ^[2] ; Nunes, Jethe O. F. ^[3] ; Apostolico, Juliana S. ^[3] ; Weckx, Lily Y. ^[4] ; Souza, Alessandra R. ^[4] ; Narciso, Fernanda V. ^[5] ; Fernandes-Junior, Silvio A. ^[2] ; Goncalves, Bruno ^[6] ; Folkard, Simon ^[7] ; Bittencourt, Lia ^[2] ; Tufik, Sergio ; de Mello, Marco Tulio ^[5]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Surrey, Fac Hlth & Med Sci, Guildford, Surrey - England

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psicobiol, Rua Napoleao Barros 925, BR-04021002 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Pediat, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Minas Gerais, Escola Educ Fis Fisioterapia & Terapia Ocupac EEF, Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Escola Artes Ciencias & Humanidades, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[7] Swansea Univ, Dept Psychol, Swansea, W Glam - Wales

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Sleep Medicine; v. 75, p. 263-275, NOV 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Background: It is well-established that sleep regulates immune functions. Immunological functions are dependent on circadian rhythms and regular sleep as both have an impact on the magnitude of immune responses following antigenic challenge (eg, in vaccination). Here we investigated whether nocturnal shift work can influence post-vaccination response. Methods: Thirty-four healthy workers (23 females) working either nocturnal or diurnal shifts (17 in each group) received the meningococcal C meningitis vaccine. Sleep was recorded polysomnographically (PSG) and with actigraphy. Humoral and cellular responses were assessed after vaccination. Results: Night workers showed decreased N3 stage and REM sleep duration, increased inflammatory mediators (TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels), and a weak specific humoral response to vaccination associated with reduced CD4 T lymphocytes, reduced plasmacytoid dendritic cells, reduced prolactin levels, increased TReg and increased IL-10 levels. In addition, the decrease in total sleep time and circadian rhythm al-terations were associated with a reduced humoral response post-vaccination. Conclusions: Our findings provide novel evidence concerning immune alterations of shift work on workers' health based on real-life circumstances. In association with circadian components, sufficient sleep time and rhythm synchronization were important for the development of the Ag-specific immune response, suggesting that the humoral response to vaccination may be impaired in individuals with chronic sleep restriction and circadian misalignment. (c) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/09700-2 - Physiological and immunological effects of sleep restriction on three approaches: experimental sleep restriction, shift work and sleep disorders
• Grantee: Marco Túlio de Mello
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/20316-7 - Vaccination against hepatitis A in shift workers: evaluation of the humoral and cellular immune response
• Grantee: Francieli Ruiz da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral