Relationship between the endothelial dysfunction and the expression of the β1-subunit of BK channels in a non-hypertensive sleep apnea group.

Vascular damage must be diagnosed early in patients with hypertension. In this regard, endothelial dysfunction (ED) is an early sign of vascular disease and a predictor of cardiovascular diseases. In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), intermittent hypoxia triggers ED, but mechanisms are not clear. In this context, it has been described that BK channels regulates arterial tone and that chronic and intermittent hypoxia downregulates the expression of the BK channel β1-subunit facilitating vasoconstriction. Thus, we investigated the relationship among hypoxemia, ED, and mRNA expression of the β1-subunit in patients with severe OSA. We aimed to assess (1) ED in non-hypertensive patients with OSA using laser-Doppler flowmetry, (2) BK β1-subunit mRNA expression, and (3) the impact of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on ED and β1-subunit regulation.

Pubmed ID: 31216297