Altered blood cytokines, CD4 T cells, NK and neutrophils in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

- An increase in IL-1β and IL-6 levels in the blood.
- A decrease in IFN-γ and the ratio IFN-γ/IL-4 in the blood.
- An increase in CD4 T cells associated with increased Ki67 and correlated with IL-1β.
- An increased expression of Ki67 in CD8hi and CD8lo NK cells.
- Reduced capacity of neutrophils to phagocytose bacteria and activate NADPH oxidase.

BackgroundThere are contradictory reports on the effects of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on the immune system. In order to clarify the effect of OSA on the different components of the immune system, we studied the association of OSA with changes in cytokine and chemokine levels, proliferative patterns of CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes as well as NK cells ex vivo and neutrophil functions.MethodsWe investigated the association of OSA with potential alterations in 14 Th1/Th2 and inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, CD4 and CD8 T cells, NK cells, and the NADPH oxidase activation and phagocytic functions in neutrophils.ResultsOur results suggest that the increase in CD4 T cell frequency in OSA is associated with an increased expression of the nuclear protein Ki67 (p < 0.05; power > 0.8), and is correlated with the levels of IL-1β (p < 0.05; power > 0.8). The levels of IL-1β as well as IL-6 showed a potential increase, while the levels of IFN-γ (p < 0.05; power > 0.8) and the ratio IFN-γ/IL-4 in the blood were possibly decreased in OSA. Additionally, we observed a potential increase in the expression of Ki67 in CD8hi and CD8lo NK cells (p < 0.05; power > 0.8). Our results also suggest that neutrophils have a decreased capacity to phagocytose bacteria and activate NADPH oxidase in OSA patients (p < 0.05; power > 0.8).ConclusionOSA may be associated with inflammatory and pro-Th2 immune responses, an increased proliferative potential of NK and CD4 T cells and a decreased capacity of neutrophils to phagocytose bacteria and produce ROS.