Length polymorphism in the Period 3 gene is associated with sleepiness and maladaptive circadian phase in night-shift workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Belcher R ; Drake CL ; Gumenyuk V ; Howard R ; Levin AM ; Roth T
• Description:
  The objective of the current study was to determine if night-shift workers carrying the five-repeat variant of the Period 3 gene show elevated levels of nocturnal sleepiness and earlier circadian phase compared with homozygotes for the four-repeat allele. Twenty-four permanent night-shift workers were randomly selected from a larger study. Participants took part in an observational laboratory protocol including an overnight multiple sleep latency test and half-hourly saliva collection for calculation of dim-light melatonin onset. Period 3(-/5) shift workers had significantly lower multiple sleep latency test during overnight work hours compared with Period 3(4/4) workers (3.52 +/- 23.44 min versus 10.39 +/- 6.41 min, P = 0.003). We observed no significant difference in sleepiness during early morning hours following acute sleep deprivation. Long-allele carriers indicated significantly higher sleepiness on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale administered at 17:00 hours (12.08 +/- 2.55 versus 8.00 +/- 1.94, P < 0.001). We observed a significantly earlier melatonin onset in Period 3(-/5) individuals compared with Period 3(4/4) shift workers (20:44 +/- 6:37 versus 02:46 +/- 4:58, P = 0.021). Regression analysis suggests that Period 3 genotype independently predicts sleepiness even after controlling for variations in circadian phase, but we were unable to link Period 3 to circadian phase when controlling for sleepiness. Period 3(-/5) shift workers showed both subjective and objective sleepiness in the pathological range, while their Period 3(4/4) counterparts showed sleepiness within normal limits. Period 3(-/5) night workers also show a mean circadian phase 6 h earlier (i.e. less adapted) than Period 3(4/4) workers. Because Period 3(-/5) workers have maladaptive circadian phase as well as pathological levels of sleepiness, they may be at greater risk for occupational and automotive accidents. We interpret these findings as a call for future research on the role of Period 3 in sleepiness and circadian phase, especially as they relate to night work. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Circadian Rhythm Fatigue Genetics Men Nervous System Occupational Health Safety Shift Work Schedule Sleep Sleep Initiation And Maintenance Disorders Women

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: DLMO Brain-function Circadian-rhythms Circadian Rhythms Humans MSLT PER 3 Physiology Physiopathology Shift-work Shift-workers Shift Work Disorder Sleep-deprivation Sleep-disorders

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• ISSN:
  0962-1105
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Illinois ; Michigan ; New Jersey ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  254-261
• Volume:
  24
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20046836
• Citation:
  J Sleep Res 2015 Jun; 24(3):254-261
• Contact Point Address:
  Christopher L. Drake, PhD, Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Henry Ford Hospital, 2799 W. Grand Boulevard, CFP-3, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
• Email:
  cdrake1@hfhs.org
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• Performing Organization:
  Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20110901
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Sleep Research
• End Date:
  20140831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c003de64cf496633f0fe18f91f01892dac8eab6392d44712aabb7b5a87bdacc014a253391e4bb1ff3d986bfebef2c0ec5fbb5884a06bd3e8c29c9aa2a9f213f4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/202128/cdc_202128_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 156.73 KB ]