Insights into obstructive sleep apnea research.
Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs in 10-17% of middle aged men and 3-9% of middle-aged women with a higher prevalence among obese subjects. This condition is an independent risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases. Intermittent hypoxia is a major pathophysiologic character of OSA; it can lead to oxidative stress and inflammation, which in their turn cause endothelial dysfunction, a hallmark of atherosclerosis. Many animal models have been designed to mimic OSA in human patients to allow more in-depth investigation of biological and cellular mechanisms of this condition. This review discusses the cardiovascular outcomes of OSA and some of the animal models that are being used to investigate it.
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
Mohammad
M
Badran
Divisions of Critical Care and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Sleep Disorders Program, UBC Hospital, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Najib
N
Ayas
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada. Electronic address: ilaher@mail.ubc.ca.
Ismail
I
Laher
D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology
Animal models; Endothelium; Inflammation; Intermittent hypoxia; Obesity; Oxidative stress