Metabolic syndrome and work

Circadian rhythms are endogenous fluctuations modulated by a pacemaker entity located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the ventral hypothalamus that allows daily fluctuations in biochemical, physiological, and behavioral activities. The molecular machinery that controls the circadian activity is expressed not only in the SCN, but also in several peripheral tissues. Several hormones were shown to have daily oscillations, and the so-called nutrient-sensitive hormones, namely insulin, leptin, ghrelin and adiponectin also oscillate on a circadian basis, and their release is, at least partially, regulated by environmental stimuli, such as feeding time and light-dark cycles. In a recent study designed to test the impact of different dietary habists on the human clock, it was found that a change in the dietary habits can alter the gene expression peripherally, as measured by gene expression in circulating monocytes (PBMCs). Therefore, we decided to investigate the gene expression variation in PBMCs of health care workers, in order to identify new circulating biomarkers of metabolic alterations caused by specific work conditions. During our health surveillance we enrolled more than 100 workers and categorizing them for night-shift and radio-exposure conditions. Anamnestic and anthropometric data, serum biochemical indices and whole blood for PBMSCs isolation were collected. The preliminary data suggest a feasible relationship of night shift condition and/or radio-exposure with hepatic steatosis. Therefore, further investigations will be performed by gene expression profiling.