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Differential expression of immune markers in the patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome

  • Rhinology
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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate phenotypic changes of various immune cells in the peripheral blood in the patients with sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

Methods

This is a case–control study. The peripheral venous blood was collected. A subset of T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells was analysed using various markers and flow cytometry. Regression curve analysis was made to examine the correlation between the change of immune cells and aponea hypoxia index (AHI) and oxygen desaturation.

Results

The percentage of CD3+/CD4+ T lymphocytes (P < 0.001) and CD19+ B cells (P < 0.001) and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio (P < 0.001) in the OSAHS patients were significantly increased compared with those in the control group without OSAHS, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio positively correlated with aponea hypoxia index (r = 0.37, P < 0.001) but negatively correlated with the lowest SaO2 (r = − 0.2, P < 0.001), whereas a greater reduction in the percentage of CD3+/CD8+ T cells (P < 0.001). Moreover, the ratios of CD3+/CD16+/CD56+ natural killer (NK)-like T cells (P < 0.05) and CD3−/CD16+/CD56+ NKT cells (P < 0.001) were significantly lower in the OSAHS group than those in the control group. However, no significant difference was observed in the percentage of CD3+ total T cells, CD8+/CD28+ T cells, CD8+/CD28− T cells, DC1, DC2, and DC1/DC2 dendritic cells between the OSAHS and control groups.

Conclusion

Our study showed differential responses of various types of immune cells in the peripheral blood in patients with OSAHS and their correlation with severity of oxygen desaturation.

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  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China

    Hong Xie, Jinshu Yin, Yunbo Bai, Hong Peng, Xiaohong Zhou & Juan Bai

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Correspondence to Jinshu Yin.

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Hong Xie has no conflict of interest, Jinshu Yin has no conflict of interest, Yunbo Bai has no conflict of interest, Hong Peng has no conflict of interest, Xiaohong Zhou has no conflict of interest, and Juan Bai has no conflict of interest.

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Xie, H., Yin, J., Bai, Y. et al. Differential expression of immune markers in the patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 276, 735–744 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-018-5219-6

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