INVESTIGATION OF O-ALKYL/O-ALKENYL GLYCEROLIPID RATIOS IN ERYTHROCYTE LYSATES OF PATIENTS WITH OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Vulnerabilities of plasmalogens in erythrocyte membrane to hypoxic conditions and alteration induced by sleep restriction make them potential biomarkers for the evaluation of sleep apnea related sleep disorders. Objective:We aimed to investigate and to compare ratios of alkyl/alkenyl glycerolipids of erythrocyte membranes (representing plasmanyl/plasmenyl plasmalogens) between controls and patients with sleep apnea and to evaluate possible differences, if any, which could be considered as a diagnostic tool. Material and methods: The patients underwent polysomnography and categorized according to the severity of sleep apnea using Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI). Phospholipids in erythrocyte lysates were hydrolyzed by phospholipase C and the acylgroups were saponified. Then the O-alkyl/O-alkenyl glycerolipids were separated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Densitometric image analyses were performed on the lipid spots of TLC plates and the ratios were determined. Results: No significant correlationwas observedbetween the alkyl/alkenyl glycerolipid ratios of the eryhtrocyte lysates of sleep apnea patients and that of controls. Conclusion: Results of this study warrants reinvestigation of alkyl/alkenyl glycerolipid ratios in erythrocytes of patients with sleep apnea, with each subjects sampled before and after the treatment of sleep apnea to better understand the potential of this ratio as a diagnostic tool.