Ntified in the skin vasculature of OSA patients could be validated

Ntified in the skin vasculature of OSA patients could be validated in a mouse model of OSA. We measured relative expression of the same select genes in aortas, as this vascular bed is targeted for development of accelerated atherosclerosis in OSA patients [31]. Expression levels of eNOS and VEGF mRNA were significantly upregulated in mice exposed to IH as compared to IA (Fig. 3). A similar trend, albeit not significant, was observed for A20, VCAM-1, and HIF-1a.Expression of select genes in HMVEC and HCAEC exposed to IHAn in vitro model of OSA is desirable to study the mechanisms causing vascular dysfunction of OSA/IH. We chose HMVEC in order to investigate a similar vascular bed as in our human skin biopsies, and HCAEC, as the cells preferentially used to study atherosclerosis and endothelial (dys)function. Expression levels of eNOS and HIF-1a were significantly Title Loaded From File decreased in HMVEC after 2 h of IH (Fig. 4). We noted a similar trend (though not significant) for VEGF. In contrast, A20 levels were increased after 1 and 2 h of IH in these cells. In HCAEC 2-h exposure to IH significantly increased expression of A20, VCAM-1, and hypoxia-responsive gene HIF1a compared to Title Loaded From File controls (Fig. 5).DiscussionIdentifying a “molecular signature” that could define and/or predict cardiovascular risk of OSA could be highly beneficial for diagnostic and prognostic purposes, to evaluate response to therapies, and to elucidate mechanisms involved in OSA-mediated vascular dysfunction [17]. In this study, using a minimally invasive skin biopsy method, we demonstrate, for the first time, that expression levels of several genes relevant to EC function are modulated in OSA patients in a way that correlates with disease 1315463 severity, and possibly vascular risk. The gene panel that we investigated included eNOS, whose function is crucial for EC homeostasis [22,32], the NF-kB inhibitory gene, A20 [25,33], the pro-inflammatory adhesion molecule VCAM-1 [27,28], the hypoxia-responsive genes, HIF-1a and VEGF [29,30]. Due to the experimental constraints (smallFigure 1. Endothelium-dependent microvascular reactivity is decreased in severely hypoxemic OSA patients. Changes in skin blood flow were measured at the forearm by scanning LASER Doppler following administration of acetylcholine (ACh) that stimulates the endothelium-dependent release of nitric oxide (A) or SNP that releases nitric oxide in an endothelium-independent manner (B). Data are presented as box-plots with medians, quartiles and minimum and maximum values; 12 subjects per group. C ?control group; 75 ?OSA group with mild hypoxemia; ,75 ?OSA group with severe hypoxemia. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0070559.gBiomarkers of Vascular Dysfunction in Sleep ApneaFigure 2. Expression of select genes in skin of OSA patients is differently regulated in severely hypoxemic (,75 blood oxygen saturation) and mildly hypoxemic ( 75 blood oxygen saturation) OSA groups. Gene expression in skin biopsies obtained from OSA patients and control subjects was analyzed by qRT-PCR using specific primers, and is presented as relative mRNA expression versus a control group. Results for each sample were normalized versus 28S. n = 10?2. Data are presented as mean +/2 SDEV. * p,0.05; ** p,0.005. There is a global statistical significance for all genes in three groups of studied subjects. 75 ?OSA group with mild hypoxemia; ,75 ?OSA group with severe hypoxemia. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0070559.gsample size) our experiments were designed to stu.Ntified in the skin vasculature of OSA patients could be validated in a mouse model of OSA. We measured relative expression of the same select genes in aortas, as this vascular bed is targeted for development of accelerated atherosclerosis in OSA patients [31]. Expression levels of eNOS and VEGF mRNA were significantly upregulated in mice exposed to IH as compared to IA (Fig. 3). A similar trend, albeit not significant, was observed for A20, VCAM-1, and HIF-1a.Expression of select genes in HMVEC and HCAEC exposed to IHAn in vitro model of OSA is desirable to study the mechanisms causing vascular dysfunction of OSA/IH. We chose HMVEC in order to investigate a similar vascular bed as in our human skin biopsies, and HCAEC, as the cells preferentially used to study atherosclerosis and endothelial (dys)function. Expression levels of eNOS and HIF-1a were significantly decreased in HMVEC after 2 h of IH (Fig. 4). We noted a similar trend (though not significant) for VEGF. In contrast, A20 levels were increased after 1 and 2 h of IH in these cells. In HCAEC 2-h exposure to IH significantly increased expression of A20, VCAM-1, and hypoxia-responsive gene HIF1a compared to controls (Fig. 5).DiscussionIdentifying a “molecular signature” that could define and/or predict cardiovascular risk of OSA could be highly beneficial for diagnostic and prognostic purposes, to evaluate response to therapies, and to elucidate mechanisms involved in OSA-mediated vascular dysfunction [17]. In this study, using a minimally invasive skin biopsy method, we demonstrate, for the first time, that expression levels of several genes relevant to EC function are modulated in OSA patients in a way that correlates with disease 1315463 severity, and possibly vascular risk. The gene panel that we investigated included eNOS, whose function is crucial for EC homeostasis [22,32], the NF-kB inhibitory gene, A20 [25,33], the pro-inflammatory adhesion molecule VCAM-1 [27,28], the hypoxia-responsive genes, HIF-1a and VEGF [29,30]. Due to the experimental constraints (smallFigure 1. Endothelium-dependent microvascular reactivity is decreased in severely hypoxemic OSA patients. Changes in skin blood flow were measured at the forearm by scanning LASER Doppler following administration of acetylcholine (ACh) that stimulates the endothelium-dependent release of nitric oxide (A) or SNP that releases nitric oxide in an endothelium-independent manner (B). Data are presented as box-plots with medians, quartiles and minimum and maximum values; 12 subjects per group. C ?control group; 75 ?OSA group with mild hypoxemia; ,75 ?OSA group with severe hypoxemia. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0070559.gBiomarkers of Vascular Dysfunction in Sleep ApneaFigure 2. Expression of select genes in skin of OSA patients is differently regulated in severely hypoxemic (,75 blood oxygen saturation) and mildly hypoxemic ( 75 blood oxygen saturation) OSA groups. Gene expression in skin biopsies obtained from OSA patients and control subjects was analyzed by qRT-PCR using specific primers, and is presented as relative mRNA expression versus a control group. Results for each sample were normalized versus 28S. n = 10?2. Data are presented as mean +/2 SDEV. * p,0.05; ** p,0.005. There is a global statistical significance for all genes in three groups of studied subjects. 75 ?OSA group with mild hypoxemia; ,75 ?OSA group with severe hypoxemia. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0070559.gsample size) our experiments were designed to stu.