Effect of Circardian Rhythm Changes on Innate Immunity Response

The adaptation failure of circadian rhythm cause work stress for the night shift workers. The research aims to prove that the work stress will affect the innate immunity, by the concept of psychoneuroimmunology. The research was done by using quasi-experimental research design and similar working unit workers who have never been in night shift work as control. Samples were selected among male workers, unmarried, 2025 years old with good health status and no psychological disturbances. Responses of cortisol hormone was used as stress indicator, and cellular response of monocyte, lymphocyte, neuthrophyl, and natural killer (NK) cell were used as immune response indicators. Data were collected during 5 (five) working days. This study shows that cortisol hormone and neuthrophyl cell are the important indicators in the circadian rhythm among workers. Two profiles appear in the group studied. The first is considered adaptive to circadian rhythm. The second group, unadaptive group, is a group where the work stress occurs and this is showed by the high of cortisol response with low response of neuthrophyl cell. Circadian rhythm changes can play as a stressor for rotating shift worker.Key words: circadian rhythm, night shift, cortisol, psychoneuroimmunology, immune respons