Invariant Natural Killer T Cell Deficiency and Functional Impairment in Sleep Apnea: Links to XXXX Comorbidity.

@entity1 @entity137 @entity5 @entity26 @entity27 @entity519
STUDY OBJECTIVES: Emerging evidence @entity27 ( @entity27 ) with increased @entity5 incidence and mortality. Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells play an important role in @entity5 immunity. We hypothesized that @entity1 with @entity27 have low number of circulating invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, which may also be functionally impaired. This study aims to evaluate the frequency of circulating iNKT cells in @entity27 . DESIGN: We evaluated the frequency of circulating iNKT cells by flow cytometry in 33 snorers being assessed for possible @entity27 . Using iNKT cell lines, we also evaluated the effect of exposure to @entity519 over 24 hours on apoptosis, @entity137 , and cytokine production. SETTING: Teaching hospital based sleep unit and research laboratory. @entity1 : Thirty-three snorers were evaluated: 9 with no @entity27 ( @entity27 frequency [AHI] < 5/h), 12 with mild-moderate @entity27 (AHI 5-30) and 12 with severe @entity27 (AHI > 30). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: @entity1 with severe @entity27 had considerably fewer iNKT cells (0.18%) compared to @entity1 with mild-moderate (0.24%) or no @entity27 (0.35%), P = 0.0026. The frequency of iNKT cells correlated negatively with @entity27 index (r = -0.58, P = 0.001), @entity26 desaturation index (r = -0.58, P = 0.0003), and SpO2% < 90% (r = -0.5407, P = 0.005). The frequency of iNKT cells increased following 12 months of nCPAP therapy (P = 0.015). @entity519 resulted in increased apoptosis (P = 0.016) and @entity137 (P = 0.035). CONCLUSION: @entity1 with @entity27 ( @entity27 ) have significantly reduced levels of circulating invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells and @entity519 leads to impaired iNKT cell function. These observations may partly explain the increased @entity5 risk reported in @entity1 with @entity27 .
