Plasma levels of α-synuclein — aggregates of which are the pathological hallmark of Parkinson disease (PD) — are increased in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and correlate with the degree of hypoxia, according to a new study. Sun et al. measured total and phosphorylated α-synuclein levels in 42 patients with OSAS and 46 age-matched and gender-matched controls who had simple snoring. Total and phosphorylated α-synuclein levels were significantly higher in patients with OSAS than in controls and correlated positively with the apnoea–hypopnoea index and the oxygen desaturation index. Total and phosphorylated α-synuclein levels were negatively correlated with mean and lowest oxyhaemoglobin saturations. Previous studies suggest that OSAS is a risk factor for onset of PD; the authors say their findings indicate that chronic hypoxia increases α-synuclein levels and might be involved in the pathogenesis of PD.
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Sun, H.-L. et al. Plasma α-synuclein levels are increased in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Ann. Clin. Transl Neurol. https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.756 (2019)
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Kelsey, R. Increased α-synuclein levels in patients with sleep apnoea might be involved in PD pathogenesis. Nat Rev Neurol 15, 246 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-019-0175-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-019-0175-3