Tissue-specific effects of intermittent hypoxia
| Tissue | Mechanism | Effects |
| Carotid body | Oxygen sensing by HIF-1α | Enhanced sympathetic activity |
| Increased blood pressure | ||
| Decreased baroreflex sensitivity | ||
| Endothelium | Activation of NF-κB | Inflammatory cytokine production |
| Surface adhesion molecule expression | ||
| Increased apoptotic endothelial cells? | ||
| Decreased circulating endothelial progenitor cells? | ||
| Adipose tissue | Activation of NF-κB | Dysregulation of adipokine production |
HIF: hypoxia-inducible factor; NF-κB: nuclear factor-κB.