Differential gene expression in the T-helper lymphocytes of obstructive sleep apnea patients treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP)

Med Hypotheses. 2004;63(4):630-2. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2004.01.039.

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disease with significant morbidity, increased risk of accidents attributed to daytime somnolence, and has been associated with cardiovascular complications. The treatment of choice for OSA is nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP). Some OSA patients, however, are unable to benefit from this therapy as they find nCPAP intolerable due to the related nasal inflammation. It is hypothesized that nCPAP may cause nasal inflammation in these patients by inducing changes in the expression of genes that encode interleukins (IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-13) or adhesion molecules (i.e., ICAM-1) in T-helper lymphocytes. An understanding of the underlying inflammatory mechanism could lead to specific interventions that render nCPAP therapy tolerable for these individuals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / adverse effects*
  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / methods
  • Cytokines / immunology*
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Rhinitis / etiology*
  • Rhinitis / immunology*
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / immunology*
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / pathology
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / therapy*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Cytokines