Table 2 Human studies on NSW and immune system impairment
From: Night shift work and breast cancer: from etiopathology to precision risk analysis
NSW Effect | Parameter(s) | Outcome | Year | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Impaired innate immunity | NK cell activity (PB) | ↓ NK activity | 2008 | |
Altered immune regulation | nTreg suppressive function (PB) | ↓ nTreg activity | 2009 | |
No chronic immune activation | IL-6, TNF-α, lymphocyte counts (PB) | ↔ Cytokines; ↔ Lymphocytes | 2010 | |
Transient cytokine suppression | IL-1β, TNF-α, cortisol (PB, saliva) | ↓ Cytokines (transient); ↔ Cortisol | 2011 | |
Fatigue-related immune changes | NK activity, CD4 + T cell counts (PB) | ↓ NK; ↑ CD4+ | 2011 | |
No leukocyte differences | Total leukocytes (PB) | ↔ Counts | 2018 | |
Mild immune activation | Monocytes, lymphocytes, CD8 + T cells (PB) | ↑ Counts; ↔ Function | 2019 | |
Impaired T cell adhesion | β2-integrin activation on CD8 + T cells (PB) | ↓ Adhesion; ↓ Adaptive response | 2019 | |
Suppressed adaptive immunity | CD4 + T, pDCs, Treg, IL-10, antibody response (PB) | ↓ CD4 + /pDCs; ↑ Treg/IL-10; ↓ Humoral response | 2020 | |
Reduced vaccine durability | Immune cell circadian rhythm; antibody persistence | ↓ Vaccine-induced immunity | 2022 | |
Disrupted immune rhythmicity | Lymphocytes, Th, Tc, memory B, neutrophils, IL-6 (PB) | Phase-shifted peaks; ↑ Infection risk | 2022 | |
Increased viral susceptibility | SARS-CoV-2 infection risk (epidemiologic data) | ↑ Infection risk | 2022 | |
Suppressed cytokine milieu | Broad cytokine and chemokine profile (PB) | ↓ Pro/anti-inflammatory mediators | 2022 | |
Heightened inflammatory activation | Leukocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes, basophils (PB) | ↑ Immune cell counts | 2022 | |
Reduced humoral response | Anti–SARS-CoV-2 IgG (serum) | ↓ IgG levels | 2023 | |
Enhanced cellular immunity | SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, IFN-γ + T cells (PB) | ↔ IgG; ↑ IFN-γ response | 2024 | |
Increased infection prevalence | Self-reported infections; sleep debt (survey) | ↑ Common cold, pneumonia, sinusitis, GI infections | 2025 |
