Mitochondrial function as related to psychological distress in health care professionals
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Author(s)
Gaetani, Simona
Galzignati, Luca
Marcati, Michela
Durazzi, Paola
Cianella, Adalgisa
Mocheggiani, Valentina
Monaco, Federica
Bracci, Massimo
Neuzil, Jiri
Tomasetti, Marco
Amati, Monica
Santarelli, Lory
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2021
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OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the association of psychological distress and radiation exposure as a work-related stressor with mitochondrial function in healthcare professionals. METHODS: Health care professionals at a regional hospital in Italy were evaluated for physical health and psychological measures using self-report questionnaires (n = 41; mean age 47.6 ± 13.1 years; 66% women). In a second sample, individuals exposed to elevated levels of ionizing radiation (IR: likely effective dose exceeding 6 mSv/year; (n = 63, mean age 45.8 ± 8.8 years; 62% women) were compared to health care workers with low IR (n = ...
View more >OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the association of psychological distress and radiation exposure as a work-related stressor with mitochondrial function in healthcare professionals. METHODS: Health care professionals at a regional hospital in Italy were evaluated for physical health and psychological measures using self-report questionnaires (n = 41; mean age 47.6 ± 13.1 years; 66% women). In a second sample, individuals exposed to elevated levels of ionizing radiation (IR: likely effective dose exceeding 6 mSv/year; (n = 63, mean age 45.8 ± 8.8 years; 62% women) were compared to health care workers with low IR (n = 57; mean age 47.2 ± 9.5 years; 65% women) because exposure to a toxic agent might act as a (work-related) stressor. Associations were examined between psychological factors (GHQ-12, PSS), work ability (WAI) and IR-exposure at the workplace with markers of mitochondrial function, including mitochondrial redox activity (MRA), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), biogenesis and mtDNA damage response (mtDDR) measured from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). RESULTS: All participants were in good physical health. Individuals reporting high levels of psychological distress showed lower mitochondrial biogenesis as indicated by PGC-1α and lower NRF2 expression (2.5 ± 1.0 vs 1.0 ± 0.9 rel exp, p = .035 and 31.5 ± 5.0 vs 19.4 ± 6.9 rel exp, p = .013, respectively). However, exposure to toxic agents (IR) was primarily associated with mitochondrial metabolism and reduced mtDNA integrity. Participants with IR exposure displayed higher mitochondrial redox activity (4480 ± 1202 MFI/min vs 3376 ± 983 MFI/min, p < .001) and lower ΔΨm (0.89 ± 0.09 MFI vs 0.95 ± 0.11 MFI, p = .001), and reduced mtDNA integrity (1.18 ± 0.21 rel exp vs 3.48 ± 1.57 rel exp, p < .001) compared to non-exposed individuals. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the notion that psychological distress and potential stressors related to toxic agents might influence various aspects of mitochondrial biology, and that chronic stress exposure can lead to molecular and functional recalibrations among mitochondria.
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View more >OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the association of psychological distress and radiation exposure as a work-related stressor with mitochondrial function in healthcare professionals. METHODS: Health care professionals at a regional hospital in Italy were evaluated for physical health and psychological measures using self-report questionnaires (n = 41; mean age 47.6 ± 13.1 years; 66% women). In a second sample, individuals exposed to elevated levels of ionizing radiation (IR: likely effective dose exceeding 6 mSv/year; (n = 63, mean age 45.8 ± 8.8 years; 62% women) were compared to health care workers with low IR (n = 57; mean age 47.2 ± 9.5 years; 65% women) because exposure to a toxic agent might act as a (work-related) stressor. Associations were examined between psychological factors (GHQ-12, PSS), work ability (WAI) and IR-exposure at the workplace with markers of mitochondrial function, including mitochondrial redox activity (MRA), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), biogenesis and mtDNA damage response (mtDDR) measured from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). RESULTS: All participants were in good physical health. Individuals reporting high levels of psychological distress showed lower mitochondrial biogenesis as indicated by PGC-1α and lower NRF2 expression (2.5 ± 1.0 vs 1.0 ± 0.9 rel exp, p = .035 and 31.5 ± 5.0 vs 19.4 ± 6.9 rel exp, p = .013, respectively). However, exposure to toxic agents (IR) was primarily associated with mitochondrial metabolism and reduced mtDNA integrity. Participants with IR exposure displayed higher mitochondrial redox activity (4480 ± 1202 MFI/min vs 3376 ± 983 MFI/min, p < .001) and lower ΔΨm (0.89 ± 0.09 MFI vs 0.95 ± 0.11 MFI, p = .001), and reduced mtDNA integrity (1.18 ± 0.21 rel exp vs 3.48 ± 1.57 rel exp, p < .001) compared to non-exposed individuals. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the notion that psychological distress and potential stressors related to toxic agents might influence various aspects of mitochondrial biology, and that chronic stress exposure can lead to molecular and functional recalibrations among mitochondria.
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Journal Title
Psychosomatic Medicine
Copyright Statement
© 2021 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. This is a non-final version of an article published in final form in Psychosomatic Medicine, 2021. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal link for access to the definitive, published version.
Note
This publication has been entered in Griffith Research Online as an advanced online version.
Subject
Health sciences