Serum Concentrations of Angiotensin, C-Reactive Protein, Interleukin-8, and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Train Driver Population

Train drivers are engaged in high-stress job. It may induce sleep, fatigue, and alertness loss at work, and endanger public safety. It’s unclear that cytokines of train driver would be influenced by their job. The research considers the hypothesis that stressful professions, such as train driver, influence the body’s immune system through the long-time and high-pressure working, and change production of neuro-immune factors. Using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), several neuro-immune factors were assayed among train drivers (N = 82) and health blood donors (N = 80) enrolled in the Yunnan Collaborative Innovation Center for Public Health and Disease Control. The concentrations of angiotensin, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were determined. Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn’s multiple comparisons test were performed for overall comparison between groups and for pairwise comparison, respectively. Statistical significance level was set at P < 0.05. The profession of train driving was not associated with significant increases or decreases in the systemic levels of inflammatory (CRP, IL-8, and TNF-α), but it was associated with the high expression of angiotensin in vivo. These findings suggest that the job of train driving may not be associated with significant alterations in systemic immune condition, but arouse the level of angiotensin.