Abstract
IntroductionObstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. The underlying mechanisms are largely unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are RNAs circulating in the blood that can be released into the bloodstream during hypoxia. In the present study, we investigate if OSAS-induced hypoxia results in a release of miRNAs that may mediate OSAS-associated cardiovascular damage.MethodsBlood was sampled from 23 OSAS patients before and after a polygraphically monitored night. Total circulating RNA was isolated from the plasma and quantified using real-time qPCR. Using a Taqman miRNA array, the levels of 384 different miRNAs were compared between evening and morning after polysomnography. The most highly upregulated miRNA (miRNA-505) and four additionally upregulated miRNAs (miRNA-127, miRNA-133a, miRNA-145, and miRNA-181a) were then quantified in a bigger patient cohort individually.ResultsApnea/Hypopnea-Index (AHI) was evaluated and averaged at 26 per hour on nocturnal polygraphy. In an initial miRNA array, a total of 4 miRNAs were significantly regulated. A significant increase of miRNA-145 was observed in the larger patient cohort. No significant changes in concentration were detected for miRNA-127, miRNA-133a, miRNA-181a, and miRNA-505 in this larger cohort.ConclusionOSAS results in the nocturnal release of miRNAs into the bloodstream. Our collected data may indicate a hypoxia-induced release of miRNAs into the bloodstream of OSAS-patients. In vitro experiments are needed to confirm the secretion of these miRNAs under hypoxia and evaluate the effect on the cardio vasculature.
Highlights
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk
Treatment options for patients with OSA include the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), variable/bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), dental appliances and surgeries such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) or maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) [1]
Since OSA has been shown to be an independent risk factor for multiple cardiovascular disorders, and a hypoxic desaturation is a major attribute of OSA, we sought to analyze the circulating miRNA levels in patients with OSA before and after a polygraphically monitored night to determine the changes in miRNA profiles after intermittent nocturnal hypoxia
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a sleep-related breathing disorder that occurs in large proportions of the population. It is by far the most common sleep disorder with a rising prevalence, accounting for 85% of all cases of sleep apnea [1]. Hypopnea phases are defined as a reduction in respiratory flow of more than 30% for more than 10 seconds, combined with an oxygen desaturation of at least 4% or an arousal [1, 4]. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), which measures apnea and hypopnea phases per hour of sleep, is used to classify the severity of OSA. Treatment options for patients with OSA include the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), variable/bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), dental appliances and surgeries such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) or maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) [1]
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