Plasma proteomic analysis in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Proteomics is one of the strategies to evaluate molecular mechanisms underlying obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). To examine the pathophysiological significance of plasma proteomics in OSAS, the plasma samples from severe OSAS patients (n = 6) with obese (BMI > 30) and non-OSAS patients (n = 6) with non-obese (BMI < 30) were subjected to proteomic profiling. Many proteins regarding inflammation and immune response, including complement proteins, two acute-phase reactants ceruloplasmin and serum amyloid P-component, were found to be highly expressed in severe OSAS patients. Protein changes responsible for immune modulation and inflammation may be a feature of OSAS patients.