Abstract
Introduction: Aging has been considered a risk factor for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) development. Untreated OSA has been associated with alterations that resemble the typical physiological and functional decline observed along the aging process.
Aim: Evaluate how OSA might aggravate/promote aging through alteration in mitochondrial bioenergetics in OSA patients’ peripheral blood cells and to assess the impact of OSA treatment.
Methods: A cohort of 17 OSA adult male patients was followed from the moment of their diagnosis (polysomnography), up to 4 months and 24 months of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and compared with healthy subjects (age-matched and young controls).
Results: OSA patients’ blood samples show decreased levels of mRNA/ protein mitochondrial fusion markers (p<0.01), a decreased tendency in mitochondrial complexes associated subunits expression and mitochondrial biogenesis impairment (p=0.08) in comparison with healthy control subjects, an effect that does not ameliorate after 24 months treatment. In addition, circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) shows disruptions in OSA patients’ serum levels that are partially reverted upon OSA treatment.
Conclusion: OSA aggravates/promotes dysfunctional mitochondria alterations and an inflammatory process, which can contribute to aging and directly impact on cellular signalling and inter organelle crosstalk. Most of these alterations are not reverted upon CPAP treatment, reinforcing the urgent need of new approaches for OSA diagnosis and treatment.
Footnotes
Cite this article as ERJ Open Research 2021; 7: Suppl. 7, 50.
This is an ERS Lung Science Conference abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021