RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The micro-RNA hsa-miR-502-3p is down-regulated in the plasma of obstructive sleep apnea patients after 2 weeks of continuous positive airway pressure therapy withdrawal: Data from a randomized controlled trial JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP P2201 VO 44 IS Suppl 58 A1 Thomas Rechsteiner A1 Esther Schwarz A1 Matthias Brock A1 Lars Huber A1 Malcolm Kohler YR 2014 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P2201.abstract AB IntroductionMicroRNAs (miRs) are involved in the fine tuning of gene expression in cellular processes and can be quantified in plasma. miRs represent a distinct class of easily accessible biomarkers and may play a role in clarifying pathogenic pathways in diseases involving the vascular system, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).MethodsmiRs were isolated from stored plasma samples of OSA patients who participated in a randomized controlled trial defining the effects of a two-week continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy withdrawal. The plasma concentrations of 14 miRs selected in a pilot experiment, were measured by qPCR.ResultsThe mean oxygen desaturation index (ODI) change from baseline was 43.0/h (SD 14.5, n=14) in the CPAP withdrawal group and 0.2/h (SD 1.8, n=14) in the CPAP group. Compared to continuing CPAP therapy CPAP withdrawal was associated with a down-regulated plasma concentration of hsa-miR-502-3p by a factor of 2.0 (n=14, p=0.045). In contrast, the plasma concentration of hsa-miR-210, a key regulator in the response to hypoxia, did not change (n=14, p=0.137).ConclusionShort-term CPAP therapy withdrawal in OSA patients resulted in a statistically significant change in the plasma concentration of hsa-miR-502-3p. In vitro studies are necessary to identify possible targets of hsa-miR-502-3p and to substantiate the relevance of our finding in OSA.