Correlation Analysis of Characteristics of Intestinal Microbiota and Cytokine Levels in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota and cytokine levels in individuals with different degrees of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) as well as to investigate intestinal microbiota imbalances in patients with OSAHS and the associated mechanisms.

METHODS

Based on their sleep apnea hypopnea index (AHI), a total of 37 adults were assigned to a control group, a mild OSAHS group, or a moderate-to-severe OSAHS group. Fecal samples were collected to characterize the intestinal microbiota using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), while blood samples were collected to detect levels of interleukin-17a (IL-17a), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in each group.

RESULTS

1. There was no significant difference in the Shannon index among the three groups ( > 0.05). The three groups showed significant difference in the relative abundance of and (with values of 3.955 and 7.24, respectively, < 0.05), while showed no significant difference in the relative abundance of , and ( > 0.05). 2. The three groups showed significant difference in the expression of serum IL-17A and TNF-α levels (with values of 18.119 and 10.691, respectively, < 0.05), while showed no significant difference in the expression of IL-10, IL-6, and CRP levels ( > 0.05). 3. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the relative abundance of was correlated with changes in BMI and AHI (with values of 2.585 and -0.157, respectively, < 0.05), while the relative abundance of was correlated with changes in IL-17a (with value of -0.161, < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The study revealed a significant correlation between intestinal microbiota abundance and cytokine levels, suggesting that gut microbiota disruption in OSAHS patients may be linked to systemic chronic inflammation.