Abstract
To test whether gas and oil field work is accompanied by stress and altered immune function, the perception of workplace stress, levels of salivary cortisol, plasma levels, and mononuclear cell production of cytokines were examined in 80 healthy workers recruited among a population of operators on gas and oilfields. Specific questionnaires for determining the perception of anxiety, occupational stress, and subjective symptoms were administered. Salivary cortisol and cytokines plasma levels were evaluated by Elisa and to investigate immune function, both spontaneous and PHA- or LPS-induced expression and production of cytokines were assessed by qRT-PCR. Workers showed medium stress levels at work, with growth and increased motivation for work, and based on salivary cortisol concentrations, were divided into two groups of ≤10 ng/mL (n = 31) or >10 ng/mL (n = 49). Statistically significant higher plasma levels of IL-6, while lower TNFα, were detected in workers with cortisol >10 ng/mL. Also, BMI, DL, JD and Job strain were significantly higher in workers with cortisol >10 ng/mL. Thus, even modest variations of cortisol might have a role in the modulation of immune response and worker’s vulnerability to health imbalance.Thus, the evaluation of immune status, in addition to cortisol levels, could be useful to prevent illnesses; exacerbation of pre-existing conditions; morbidity; and consequent absences from work, with economic repercussions.
Highlights
In the last decades, research has pointed out the role of stress in the variation of the physiological cross-talk between the brain, immune, and endocrine systems
That is independent of the salivary flow rate, is a valid indicator of the plasma free cortisol concentration [27], and due to its feasibility to collect, as well as being non-invasive and without pain and/or stress for patients [28,29,30], and having low collection cost [31], the evaluation of salivary cortisol is very common in research and laboratory studies
We have investigated the job stress, perception of anxiety, salivary cortisol, and cytokine levels in workers in the gas and oil industry
Summary
Research has pointed out the role of stress in the variation of the physiological cross-talk between the brain, immune, and endocrine systems. Brain-immune cross-talk is greatly influenced by mental states and psychosocial factors. Communication between the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the immune system is essential to establish homeostasis and cytokines; hormones and cell-to-cell interactions allow for the integration and reciprocal regulation of the CNS and immune system. The synthesis and release of cytokines, which are an important part of the immune response, are generally protective but can be dangerous if inappropriate or excessive. Th1 cells release proinflammatory cytokines such as interferon (IFN) γ, Interleukin (IL)-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1β that drive inflammation and cellular-mediated responses, and Th2 cells produced cytokines such as IL-1ra, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 that are associated with humoral immunity and anti-inflammatory properties [1]. Macrophages, B lymphocytes, dendritic cells, mast cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts are very important cytokine-producing cells, and all produce detectable amounts of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IFNβ, and TNF [2]
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