title: [Alteration of telomere length of the peripheral white blood cells in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the alteration of telomere length of the peripheral white blood cells in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and explore its significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  The DNA was extracted from the peripheral white blood cells of 11 patients with OSAS and 10 normal subjects matched for age and gender, and the T/S ratio was measured by fluorescence quantitative PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The T/S ratio in the peripheral white blood cells of patients with OSAS was obviously lower than that of the normal subjects (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reduction in the telomere length in the peripheral blood cells suggests a possible relationship between OSAS pathogenesis and telomere length, and hypoxemia and hypercapnia make accelerate telomere shortening and promote cell apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. normandy99@163.com
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: LIN
authors.forename: Tao-ping
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: LI
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000097:blood*; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism*