Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Gil Medical Center, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon, Korea.
Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol. 2013 Jun;6(2):68-72. doi: 10.3342/ceo.2013.6.2.68. Epub 2013 Jun 14.
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with repeated hypoxia and re-oxygenation. This characteristic of OSAS may cause oxidative stress and DNA damage. However, the link of OSAS with oxidative stress and DNA damage is still controversial. In the current study, we investigated whether OSAS causes DNA damage using alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) and measuring oxidative stress by monitoring serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels.
From March 2009 to August 2010, 51 patients who underwent polysomnography (PSG) during the night were enrolled in this study. We obtained serum from the patients at 6 AM. DNA damage and oxidative stress were evaluated using a comet assay and measuring serum MDA, respectively. We divided the patients into two groups according to the existence of comets appearing in the comet assay. Group 1 included 44 patients with negative assay results and group 2 consisted of seven patients with positive comet assay findings. We compared the age, gender proportion, PSG data (respiratory disturbance index [RDI], lowest O2 saturation level, and arousal index [AI]), time of disease onset, smoking habits, and serum MDA levels between the two groups.
The average age and gender proportion of the two groups were not statistically different (P>0.05). The average of RDI for group 1 was 30.4±18.4 and 8.0±7.7 (P<0.01) for group 2. The average of lowest O2 saturation level for group 1 was 81.2±7.2 and 87.4±6.5 (P<0.05) for group 2. The average AI for group 1 was 32.8±15.1 and 20.8±7.7 (P<0.05) for group 2. Similarly, serum MDA levels of the two groups were not statistically different (P>0.05). No relationship between positive comet assay results and OSAS severity was identified.
Results of the current study showed that OSAS was not associated with DNA damage as measured by comet assays or oxidative stress according to serum MDA levels.
阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征（OSAS）与反复缺氧和再氧合有关。OSAS 的这一特征可能导致氧化应激和 DNA 损伤。然而，OSAS 与氧化应激和 DNA 损伤之间的联系仍存在争议。在本研究中，我们通过碱性单细胞凝胶电泳（彗星试验）检测 DNA 损伤，并通过监测血清丙二醛（MDA）水平来衡量氧化应激，以确定 OSAS 是否会导致 DNA 损伤。
2009 年 3 月至 2010 年 8 月，对夜间进行多导睡眠图（PSG）的 51 例患者进行了研究。我们在早上 6 点从患者身上采集血清。通过彗星试验评估 DNA 损伤，通过测量血清 MDA 评估氧化应激。我们根据彗星试验的结果将患者分为两组。组 1 包括 44 例阴性试验结果的患者，组 2 包括 7 例阳性彗星试验结果的患者。我们比较了两组患者的年龄、性别比例、PSG 数据（呼吸紊乱指数[RDI]、最低 O2 饱和度水平和觉醒指数[AI]）、发病时间、吸烟习惯和血清 MDA 水平。
两组患者的平均年龄和性别比例无统计学差异（P＞0.05）。组 1 的 RDI 平均值为 30.4±18.4，组 2 为 8.0±7.7（P＜0.01）。组 1 的最低 O2 饱和度水平平均值为 81.2±7.2，组 2 为 87.4±6.5（P＜0.05）。组 1 的 AI 平均值为 32.8±15.1，组 2 为 20.8±7.7（P＜0.05）。同样，两组患者的血清 MDA 水平无统计学差异（P＞0.05）。未发现阳性彗星试验结果与 OSAS 严重程度之间存在相关性。
本研究结果表明，通过彗星试验或血清 MDA 水平衡量的氧化应激，OSAS 与 DNA 损伤无关。
