[Variation in protein expression depending on the severity of sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome]

A prospective study with a consecutive sample and a control group to determine whether protein expression in patients with sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome (SAHS) is different from that of the control group (IAH < or =5).

A total of 32 patients aged between 35 and 60 years who had a polysomnograph performed were included. Patients with an acute or chronic were excluded. The first dimension of the proteomic study was carried out on IPG strips (18cm, pH 4-7) and the second on SDS-PAGE gels in triplicate for each group. The gels were stained with SYPRO-Ruby (Bio-Rad((R))), the images obtained with an FX-Imager laser scanner and the spots were analysed using ProteomWeaver v. 4.0 (Bio-Rad((R))) software. Significant changes between the gels were analysed by replicates and separately, being considered a significant change if the relative intensity of the spots was three times higher or lower than that of the control and if it was observed in 2 of the 3 replicates of each group, with a coefficient of variation of <20%.

The patients were divided into 8 subjects per group (control, mild, moderate and severe). The comparison of the gels showed significant differences between the control group and the 3 clinical groups, with significant over-expression being observed in 3 spots, and under-expression in 7 spots in the control group.

There are significant changes in protein expression between a control group and patients in different stages of disease. The proteomic study can identify biomarkers associated with the diagnosis and severity of the SAHS.