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Epigenetic Alterations in Pediatric Sleep Apnea
Emily Catherine Cheung1, Matthew Wyatt Kay1, Kathryn Jaques Schunke1,2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|September 10, 2021
Summary
Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea negatively impacts children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Epigenetics
- Chronic Disease Pathogenesis
Background:
- Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (POSA) has severe health and behavioral consequences in children.
- POSA is linked to increased risks of adult chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and endothelial dysfunction.
- Early life insults during critical developmental windows can lead to long-term structural or functional effects, contributing to adult disease susceptibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on phenotypic associations of epigenetic modifications in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea.
- To emphasize the role of epigenetic changes in modulating chronic disease risk.
- To highlight epigenetic modifications as potential therapeutic targets for POSA-related conditions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on epigenetic mechanisms (histone modifications, non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation) in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea.
- Analysis of phenotypic associations between epigenetic changes and health/behavioral outcomes in affected children.
- Examination of the link between early life epigenetic alterations and adult chronic disease development.
Main Results:
- Accumulating evidence links epigenetic modifications to the pathogenesis of adult disease susceptibility.
- Specific epigenetic mechanisms are associated with various phenotypic outcomes in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea.
- These epigenetic changes play a role in the long-term modulation of chronic disease risk originating from early life.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic modifications are crucial in understanding the long-term health impacts of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea.
- Epigenetic changes represent key modulators of chronic disease development and hold potential as therapeutic targets.
- Further research into pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and epigenetics is vital for preventing and treating adult-onset non-communicable diseases.
Keywords:
DNA methylationchronic diseaseepigenetic mechanisms of diseasefetal programminghistone modificationsobstructive sleep apneaMore Related Videos
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