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Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
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Fatty-acid binding protein 4 gene polymorphisms and plasma levels in children with obstructive sleep apnea

Bharat Bhushan1, Abdelnaby Khalyfa, Karen Spruyt

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Comer Children's Hospital, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.

Sleep Medicine
|June 14, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children is linked to higher fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) levels, increasing cardiometabolic risk. A specific gene variant, rs1054135, may contribute to these elevated FABP4 levels in children with OSA and obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked to metabolic syndrome in children.
  • Elevated fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) in adults with OSA correlates with insulin resistance, independent of obesity.
  • This study investigates plasma FABP4 levels and genetic variants in children with and without OSA, considering obesity status.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess plasma FABP4 levels and FABP4 allelic variants in obese and non-obese children with and without OSA.
  • To explore the relationship between FABP4 levels, obesity, and OSA in pediatric populations.
  • To identify potential genetic predispositions for elevated FABP4 in children with OSA.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 309 children aged 5-8 years, categorized by OSA status (based on apnea-hypopnea index) and obesity status (based on BMI z-score).
  • Measured morning fasting plasma FABP4 levels using ELISA.
  • Genotyped 11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the FABP4 gene region.

Main Results:

  • Plasma FABP4 levels were elevated in all children with OSA, including non-obese individuals.
  • FABP4 levels showed a strong association with BMI z-score.
  • The minor allele (A) of SNP rs1054135 was more frequent in children with OSA and associated with higher plasma FABP4 levels in both OSA and obese subjects.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood obesity and OSA are associated with increased plasma FABP4 levels, contributing to cardiometabolic risk.
  • The FABP4 gene variant rs1054135 may play a role in elevated FABP4 levels in children with obesity and OSA.
  • These findings highlight the interplay between OSA, obesity, genetics, and metabolic risk in children.
Abstract

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