BRCA1 and BRCA2 Gene Expression: Diurnal Variability and Influence of Shift Work

• Published in: Cancers Vol. 11; no. 8; p. 1146
• Main Authors: Bracci, Massimo, Ciarapica, Veronica, Zabaleta, Maria Eléxpuru, Tartaglione, Maria Fiorella, Pirozzi, Silvia, Giuliani, Letizia, Piva, Francesco, Valentino, Matteo, Ledda, Caterina, Rapisarda, Venerando, Stevens, Richard G, Santarelli, Lory
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 09-08-2019; MDPI
• Subjects: Biological clocks; BRCA1 protein; BRCA2 protein; Breast cancer; Cell cycle; Circadian rhythm; Daytime; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diurnal variations; DNA; DNA damage; DNA repair; Double-strand break repair; Gene expression; Hormones; Independent sample; Light; Lymphocytes; Melatonin; Mutation; Shift work; Statistical analysis; Workers; night shift work; biological clocks; shift work schedule; desynchronization of circadian rhythms; gene; DNA damage; breast cancer; chronobiology disorders; DNA repair
• ISSN: 2072-6694; 2072-6694
• DOI: 10.3390/cancers11081146

and
genes are involved in DNA double-strand break repair and related to breast cancer. Shift work is associated with biological clock alterations and with a higher risk of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the variability of expression of
genes through the day in healthy subjects and to measure
expression levels in shift workers. The study was approached in two ways. First, we examined diurnal variation of
and
genes in lymphocytes of 15 volunteers over a 24-hour period. Second, we measured the expression of these genes in lymphocytes from a group of shift and daytime workers. The change in 24-hour expression levels of
and
genes was statistically significant, decreasing from the peak at midday to the lowest level at midnight. Lower levels for both genes were found in shift workers compared to daytime workers. Diurnal variability of
and
expression suggests a relation of DNA double-strand break repair system with biological clock. Lower levels of
and
found in shift workers may be one of the potential factors related to the higher risk of breast cancer.