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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
PubMed

Insights

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 apnea

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