Nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase p22phox expression in induced sputum cells for patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

Abstract

the aim of the study was to observe the change of NADPH oxidase p22phox expression in the induced sputum cells for patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), and its relationship with the severity of OSAHS. thirty OSAHS patients and 23 healthy controls were recruited in the study. Before sleep and in the next morning sputum induction was performed twice for each subject, cell numbers and differentials in induced sputum were counted. NADPH oxidase p22phox mRNA expression was measured in induced sputum cells by RT-PCR and the protein was measured by immunocytochemistry. the OSAHS group showed a significant higher percentage of neutrophils and a lower percentage of macrophages in the induced sputum compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Macrophages and neutrophils represented the main cell types expressing NADPH oxidase p22phox in induced sputum cells by immunocytochemistry. In the control group, level of NADPH oxidase p22phox mRNA and percentages of NADPH oxidase p22phox positive neutrophils and macrophages in sputum samples collected both in the morning and before sleep was significantly lower than in OSAHS group (P < 0.05). In OSAHS group, higher levels of NADPH oxidase p22phox mRNA and percentages of NADPH oxidase p22phox positive neutrophils and macrophages were found in the morning than at pre-sleep. A negative correlation was found between levels of NADPH oxidase p22phox mRNA and percentage of NADPH oxidase p22phox positive neutrophils and macrophages in the morning sputum were negatively associated with LspO(2), but positively associated with AHI. these findings suggest that there are changes of NADPH oxidase p22phox expression in induced sputum cells of OSAHS patients, and these changes are related to the severity of OSAHS.