Increased Serum Levels of Proinflammatory Cytokines Are Accompanied by Fatigue in Military T-6A Texan II Instructor Pilots
Abstract
Tactical aviation imposes unprecedented physical challenges including repetitive exposure to hypergravity, hyperoxia, increased work of breathing, and profound cognitive workloads. Each stressor evokes outcomes ranging from musculoskeletal duress and atelectasis to physical and cognitive fatigue, the latter among the foremost threats to aviators. Whereas sleep loss is traditionally considered the primary cause of fatigue in aviators, converging experimental, observational, and medical studies have identified biochemical mechanisms promoting onset of fatigue. Those mechanisms, which fundamentally differ from sleep loss, revolve around increased proinflammatory cytokines, produced and released in response to tissue injury, chronic inflammatory disorders, allergens, or physical duress. This study’s objective was to inform our understanding of potential relationships between serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines and onset of fatigue within a cohort of aviators who experience multiple high-performance sorties on a daily basis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Apr 28, 2022
- Source ID
- 10.3389/fphys.2022.876750
Entities
People
- Alireza Abdollahifar
- Anthony M. Turner
- Elizabeth G Damato
- Ian S. Vannix
- Jonathan E. Somogyi
- Lidia S. Ilcus
- Michael J. Decker
- Ryan S. Mayes
- Seth J. Fillioe
- Seunghee P. Margevicius
Organizations
- United States Department of Defense