%0 Journal Article %A Izabela Tuleta %A Carmen Pizarro %A Georg Nickenig %A Uwe Juergens %A Dirk Skowasch %T Deleterious effects of intermittent hypoxia on lung tissue %D 2016 %R 10.1183/13993003.congress-2016.PA2070 %J European Respiratory Journal %P PA2070 %V 48 %N suppl 60 %X Background: Intermittent hypoxia as a surrogate of obstructive sleep apnea is associated with different cardiovascular complications. However, the effects of intermittent hypoxia on the lung tissue are less known. Therefore, the aim of our present study was to investigate if intermittent hypoxia may influence oxidative stress, inflammation and protease/antiprotease system in the lung. Additionally, potential protective properties of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative drugs have been evaluated.Methods: 32 mice were divided into 4 groups: 1. intermittent hypoxia, 2. intermittent hypoxia with infliximab, 3. intermittent hypoxia with L-glutathione, 4. normoxia. After 4 weeks lungs and blood were collected. Levels of reactive oxygen species in the lung were calculated by L-O12-enhanced chemiluminescence. CD68 positive lung macrophages were detected by immunofluorescence. Concentrations of elastase and desmosine in lungs and of alpha-1-antitrypsin in blood were calculated be means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: Compared to a control, intermittent hypoxia augmented the release of free oxygen radicals, expression of CD68+ macrophages and concentration of elastase in the lung tissue. Despite increased blood levels of protective alpha-1-antitrypsin, concentrations of desmosine- degradation product of elastin were higher vs. control. The application of anti-inflammatory infliximab und antioxidative L-glutathione prevented at least partly the above observed hypoxia-associated changes.Discussion: Intermittent hypoxia contributes to the lung damage by increased oxidative stress, inflammation and imbalance in protease/antiprotease system. Infliximab and L-glutathione may prevent hypoxia-induced lung alternations. %U