Chronic intermittent hypoxia due to obstructive sleep apnea slightly alters nutritional status: a pre-clinical study.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with chronic intermittent hypoxia (cIH) that causes disturbances in glucose and lipid metabolism. Animals exposed to cIH show lower body weight and food intake, but the protein-energy metabolism has never been investigated. Here, to address the gap, we studied the impact of cIH on nutritional status in rats. A total of 24 male Wistar rats were randomized into 3 groups (n = 8): a control group (Ctrl), a cIH group (cIH) exposed to cIH (30 s 21-30 s 5% fraction of inspired oxygen, 8 h per day, for 14 days), and a pair-fed group (PF) exposed to normoxia with food intake adjusted to the intake of the cIH group rats with anorexia. Body weight and food intake were measured throughout the study. After 14 days, the rats were euthanized, the organs were collected, weighed, and the liver, intestine mucosa, and muscles were snap-frozen to measure total protein content. Food intake was decreased in the cIH group. Body weight was significantly lower in the cIH group only (-11%, p < 0.05). Thymus and liver weight as well as EDL protein content tended to be lower in the cIH group than in the Ctrl and PF groups. Jejunum and ileum mucosa protein contents were lower in the cIH group compared to the PF group. cIH causes a slight impairment of nutritional status and immunity. This pre-clinical work argues for greater consideration of malnutrition in care for OSAS patients. Further studies are warranted to devise an adequate nutritional strategy.

Intermittent Hypoxia-Induced Cardiomyocyte Death Is Mediated by HIF-1 Dependent MAM Disruption.

RATIONALE: Intermittent hypoxia (IH) is one of the main features of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Recent findings indicate that hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) promotes cardiomyocytes apoptosis during chronic IH, but the mechanisms involved remain to be elucidated. Here, we hypothesize that IH-induced ER stress is associated with mitochondria-associated ER membrane (MAM) alteration and mitochondrial dysfunction, through HIF-1 activation. METHODS: Right atrial appendage biopsies from patients with and without SDB were used to determine HIF-1α, Grp78 and CHOP expressions. Wild-type and HIF-1α+/- mice were exposed to normoxia (N) or IH (21-5% O2, 60 cycles/h, 8 h/day) for 21 days. Expressions of HIF-1α, Grp78 and CHOP, and apoptosis, were measured by Western blot and immunochemistry. In isolated cardiomyocytes, we examined structural integrity of MAM by proximity ligation assay and their function by measuring ER-to-mitochondria Ca2+ transfer by confocal microscopy. Finally, we measured mitochondrial respiration using oxygraphy and calcium retention capacity (CRC) by spectrofluorometry. MAM structure was also investigated in H9C2 cells incubated with 1 mM CoCl2, a potent HIF-1α inducer. RESULTS: In human atrial biopsies and mice, IH induced HIF-1 activation, ER stress and apoptosis. IH disrupted MAM, altered Ca2+ homeostasis, mitochondrial respiration and CRC. Importantly, IH had no effect in HIF-1α+/- mice. Similar to what observed under IH, HIF-1α overexpression was associated with MAM alteration in H9C2. CONCLUSION: IH-induced ER stress, MAM alterations and mitochondrial dysfunction were mediated by HIF-1; all these intermediate mechanisms ultimately inducing cardiomyocyte apoptosis. This suggests that HIF-1 modulation might limit the deleterious cardiac effects of SDB.

Apremilast in Combination with Narrowband UVB in the Treatment of Vitiligo: A 52-Week Monocentric Prospective Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: Scientific rationale and encouraging first clinical results suggest the interest of using apremilast for treating vitiligo. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of apremilast in combination therapy with narrowband (NB)-UVB versus placebo and NB-UVB treatment for repigmentation in patients with nonsegmental vitiligo. DESIGN: This was a 52-week prospective randomized placebo-controlled study. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients with vitiligo participated. INTERVENTIONS: Group A received, in addition to phototherapy, apremilast at the label dosage, and group B received placebo. After 24 weeks, patients who responded (decreased Vitiligo Area Scoring Index >30%) were rerandomized to receive apremilast or placebo, combined with twice-weekly NB-UVB for 24 additional weeks. Main outcome and measure: The primary outcome measure was the comparison between the two groups of the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index score at 24 weeks. RESULTS: Eighty patients were randomized (40 in each group). After 24 weeks, the mean Vitiligo Area Scoring Index score decreased from 23.63 to 19.49 (P = 0.011) in the apremilast + UVB group and from 21.57 to 15.25 (P < 0.0001) in the placebo + UVB group. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.18). No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups after an additional 24 weeks of treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Apremilast does not bring any benefit to NB-UVB for treating vitiligo.

Curcumin prevents chronic intermittent hypoxia-induced myocardial injury.

BACKGROUND: Chronic intermittent hypoxia (IH), the hallmark feature of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, contributes to infarct size enhancement after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Curcumin (Curc), the natural pigment of Curcuma longa, has been demonstrated to be beneficial in the context of myocardial injury. In this study, we assessed the effects of Curc on the maladaptive cardiac response to IH, and particularly on IH-induced hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) expression, oxidative stress, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis. METHODS: Swiss/SV129 mice were exposed to normoxia or IH (21-5% FiO2, 60 s cycles, 8 h per day, for 21 days) and treated orally with Curc (100 mg kg-1 day-1, oral gavage) or its vehicle. Mice were then either euthanised for heart sampling in order to perform biochemical and histological analysis, or subjected to an in vivo ischemia-reperfusion protocol in order to measure infarct size. RESULTS: IH increased nuclear HIF-1α expression and superoxide anion (O2 .-) production as well as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) p65, glucose-regulated protein (Grp78) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) expression. IH also induced apoptosis and increased infarct size after I/R . The IH-induced HIF-1 activation, oxidative stress, inflammation, ER stress and apoptosis were abolished by chronic Curc treatment. Curc also significantly decreased infarct size only in mice exposed to IH. CONCLUSION: Curc prevents IH-induced myocardial cell death signalling. Curc might be used as a combined therapy with continuous positive airway pressure in sleep apnoea patients with high cardiovascular risk.

Cooperation Between Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1α and Activating Transcription Factor 4 in Sleep Apnea-Mediated Myocardial Injury.

Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) occurring during sleep apnea amplifies infarct size owing to ischemia-reperfusion. CIH activates hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). However, whether HIF-1 and ATF4 interact to promote cardiomyocyte death remains unexplored. For the first time, we observed that in myocardium from apneic patients, CCAAT enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) expression is increased and HIF-1α expression is correlated with sleep apnea severity. In mice, single-allele deletion of HIF-1α prevents CIH increase in CHOP expression and infarct size. We uncovered a physical interaction between HIF-1α and ATF4 in CIH that may represent a novel cardiomyocyte death complex.

Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia Impairs Insulin Sensitivity but Improves Whole-Body Glucose Tolerance by Activating Skeletal Muscle AMPK.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a highly prevalent disease resulting in transient respiratory arrest and chronic intermittent hypoxia (cIH). cIH is associated with insulin resistance and impaired metabolic homeostasis in rodents and humans, but the exact underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the current study, we investigated the effects of 2 weeks of cIH (1-min cycle, fraction of inspired oxygen 21-5%, 8 h/day) on whole-body insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in lean mice. Although food intake and body weight were reduced compared with normoxia, cIH induced systemic insulin resistance in a hypoxia-inducible factor 1-independent manner and impaired insulin signaling in liver, white adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle. Unexpectedly, cIH improved whole-body glucose tolerance independently of changes in body weight and glucose-induced insulin response. This effect was associated with elevated phosphorylation of Thr172-AMPK and Ser237-TBC1 domain family member 1 (TBC1D1) in skeletal muscle, suggesting a tissue-specific AMPK-dependent increase in TBC1D1-driven glucose uptake. Remarkably, although food intake, body weight, and systemic insulin sensitivity were still affected, the improvement in glucose tolerance by cIH was abolished in muscle-specific AMPKα1α2-deficient mice. We conclude that cIH impairs insulin sensitivity while improving whole-body glucose tolerance by promoting specific activation of the skeletal muscle AMPK pathway.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress as a novel inducer of hypoxia inducible factor-1 activity: its role in the susceptibility to myocardial ischemia-reperfusion induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent disease and a risk factor for myocardial infarction expansion in humans. Intermittent hypoxia (IH) is known to be the most important OSA feature in terms of cardiovascular morbi-mortality. Since ER stress and HIF-1 are known to be involved in cardiomyocyte life or death, this study investigates the role of ER stress on HIF-1 activation in myocardial susceptibility to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) induced by IH. METHODS: C57Bl6J, HIF-1α(+/-) and their respective control mice were exposed to 14 days of IH (21-5% FiO2, 60 scycle, 8h/day). Myocardial inter-organelle calcium exchanges, ER stress and HIF-1 activity were investigated and in vivo I/R was performed to measure infarct size. In additional groups, tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA, 75 mg·kg(-1)), an ER stress inhibitor, was administered daily during exposure. RESULTS: In C57Bl6J mice, chronic IH induced an increase in ER-Ca(2+) content, ER stress markers and HIF-1 activity, associated with an enhanced infarct size (33.7 ± 9.4 vs. 61.0 ± 5.6% in N and IH, respectively, p<0.05). IH failed to increase infarct size in HIF-1α deficient mice (42.4 ± 2.7 and 24.7 ± 3.4% N and IH, respectively). Finally, TUDCA totally abolished the IH-induced increase in HIF-1 activity (1.3 ± 0.04 vs. 0.14 ± 0.02 fold increase in IH vs. IH-TUDCA respectively, p<0.0001) and in infarct size (55.5 ± 7.6 vs. 49.9 ± 3.0 in N-TUDCA and IH-TUDCA, respectively). CONCLUSION: This novel regulatory mechanism of HIF-1 activity by ER stress should be considered as a potential diagnostic tool for cardiovascular complications in OSA patients as well as a therapeutic target to limit myocardial ischemic damage.