Aragonese researchers discover a new marker for detecting cardiovascular risk in patients with sleep apnea.

The study is supported by the Precision Medicine in Respiratory Diseases group. (GIIS041) from the IIS Aragón. The research focuses on how obstructive sleep apnea affects the heart and blood vessels.

Aragonese researchers have identified A new biomarker that would allow the early identification of patients who could suffer a serious cardiovascular disease such as a heart attack in the future.This finding is part of the international research promoted by the 'Precision Medicine in Respiratory Diseases' group at the IIS Aragón, led by José María Marín Trigo and David Sanz Rubio, to understand how obstructive sleep apnea affects the heart and blood vessels.

The relationship between this disorder, in which the airways collapse repeatedly during sleep, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease was known. However, the exact mechanisms that cause it are "a mystery," says researcher David Sanz. Therefore, these researchers decided to focus their analysis on exosomes, small particles that act as messengers between cells. “These particles contain microRNAs (miRNAs), molecules that regulate key processes in the body,” explains this Aragonese scientist, who specifies that in this study they focus on those related to subclinical atherosclerosis, an early stage of cardiovascular disease characterized by the buildup of plaque in the arteries before symptoms appear.

Thus, it has been discovered that one of these miRNAs, called miR-320a-3p, is highly prevalent in patients with sleep apnea who also had subclinical atherosclerosis. "This finding is important because miR-320a-3p has not only been shown to be an early indicator of cardiovascular risk, but its presence is also associated with increased thickening of the carotid arteries after one year of follow-up," Sanz points out. In this regard, he emphasizes The potential usefulness of miR-320a-3p as a biomarker to identify patients at risk before they suffer a serious cardiovascular event.

In addition, researchers from the IIS Aragón group have evaluated the impact of standard treatment for sleep apnea, known as CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), which keeps the airways open during sleep. Although use of this machine corrects intermittent hypoxia, miR-320a-3p levels remain elevated and vascular damage has continued to progress in many patients. "This suggests that, although CPAP is effective in treating the symptoms of sleep apnea, it may not be sufficient to reverse the harmful changes in the arteries that begin due to the disease," concludes Sanz, who also emphasizes the importance of studying these pathologies. coinciding with the week in which International Sleep Day is celebrated, tomorrow, March 14.

Researchers from Marshall University (USA) also collaborated on the study, which was funded by the Carlos III Health Institute and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Image: The 'Precision Medicine in Respiratory Diseases' Group at the IIS Aragón, led by José María Marín Trigo and David Sanz Rubio