title: DNA damage and repair capacity in lymphocytes from obstructive sleep apnea patients.
abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is a respiratory disease that is linked to heart attacks and high blood pressure. In the present study, we used the Comet assay to compare basal DNA damage and DNA damage induction by hydrogen peroxide, ethanol, and gamma-irradiation in lymphocytes from 35 OSA patients and 35 controls. We also measured the apoptosis and necrosis produced by these agents and the ability of the lymphocytes to repair the induced DNA damage. It was found that lymphocytes isolated from OSA patients had higher basal levels of DNA damage and were more sensitive to the effects of the DNA-damaging agents than lymphocytes from controls. OSA patients also had a reduced capacity to repair the DNA damage induced by the three agents, but apoptosis and necrosis were similar in OSA patients and the controls.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Human Sciences, Department of Pre-School Education, Biology Unit, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kontogianni
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Messini-Nikolaki
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Christou
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gourgoulianis
authors.forename: Smaragdi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsilimigaki
authors.forename: Stylianos M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Piperakis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000235:genetics*