A sustained elevation of oxidative stress in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) might help to explain their increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. We tested the hypothesis that the values of oxidative stress are increased in otherwise healthy subjects with OSAS when compared with closely matched control subjects.
We performed a prospective study of 38 subjects who did not have OSAS and 37 patients with OSAS. Plasma indices of angiotensin (Ang) II, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), oxidised low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), and circulating endothelial precursor cells (CEPs) were measured in OSAS patients and in matched controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from both groups and co-cultured with endothelial cells to examine the effects on tube formation.
The OSAS group showed increased levels of Ang II, VEGF, oxLDL and CEPs, which were decreased after nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) treatment. In vitro, PBMCs from the OSAS group induced tube formation. Ang II, oxLDL, and Ang II-stimulated PBMCs induced lectin-like oxLDL receptor (LOX-1) expression and VEGF receptor-2 activation on endothelial cells, respectively.
These observations suggest an important role of Ang II and oxLDL-mediated LOX-1 upregulation in endothelial cell injury in patients with OSAS.