Abstract
Shift work (SW) comprises a work schedule that involves recurring times of nonstandard work hours balanced to a fixed daily work plan with regular day work times and has been evaluated as “probably carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2A) by IARC. SW may result in increased age acceleration. This systematic review aims to elucidate the usefulness of telomere length as a biomarker of biological aging in shift workers. All studies analyzed underline a shortening of telomere length in SW, and aging in shift workers and duration of work. Methodologies to measure biological aging are possible to advance efforts to clarify the basic biology of aging and provide clinicians an instrument to communicate complex health advice to workers. Telomere length measures can also give an instrument for precision medicine, useful for occupational physicians in age-related screening conditions.
Highlights
Shift work (SW) comprises a work schedule that involves recurring times of nonstandard work hours balanced to a fixed daily work plan with regular day work times [1,2]
An in-depth study conducted on cell culture, mice, and humans highlight that telomerase activity shows endogenous circadian rhythmicity in humans and mice, and Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput (CLOCK) deficiency causes a loss of telomerase activity [55]
Workers with standard work have circadian oscillation of telomerase activity; instead, shift workers lose the circadian rhythms of telomerase activity [55]
Summary
Shift work (SW) comprises a work schedule that involves recurring times of nonstandard work hours balanced to a fixed daily work plan with regular day work times [1,2]. Telomeres are the non-coding terminal areas of the chromosomes, which comprise of extremely recurring sequences Their length is conditioned by some physiologic, lifestyle, and environmental factors, as well as aging, smoking habit, psychological stress, overweight/obesity, and contact with xenobiotics [32–39]. Telomere length at the time seems to be the most promising to assess the biological age in shift workers. Telomere length assessed in surrogate tissues, for example, buccal cells, peripheral blood lymphocytes, mononuclear cells, and white blood cells, has been helpful as one of the appropriate susceptibility biomarkers for epigenetic clock and aging [27]. DNA damage produced by oxidative stress is a further process implicated in increased telomere shortening [43] and stimulates the relationship among telomere length and aging. Increased single-strand breaks formed by oxidative stress have been acquired to be under powerfully repaired at telomeres than in the end of the genome [51,52].
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