Gene Expression Profiles of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Endothelin-1 in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to observe the relationship between the gene expression profiles of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and endothelin (EDN)-1 and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study performed at a tertiary-care academic center; 108 patients with snoring and day-time sleeplessness were included in this study carried out in the Otolaryngology Department. All patients were evaluated with 1-night polysomnography (PSG). There were 63 patients with OSA and 45 patients without OSA. In the OSA group, the median apnea hypopnea index (AHI) was 29.1; in the non-OSA group, the median AHI was 2.1. Blood samples were obtained from all 108 patients for the genetic analysis of the expression of TNF-α and EDN-1. PSG findings and gene expression levels were evaluated in both groups. Results: The median (range) age was 46 (20-81) years, BMI 24.9 (15-49), EDN-1 gene expression 0.45 (0.02-67.88) pg/μL, and TNF-α gene expression 1.71 (0.08-59.52) pg/μL. We found that EDN-1 and TNF-α gene expression levels were significantly higher in the OSA group than in the control group (p = 0.009 vs. p < 0.001). Conclusion: EDN-1 and TNF-α gene expression levels were associated with the occurrence of OSA.