AUTHOR=Almendros Isaac , Carreras Alba , Montserrat Josep M , Gozal David , Navajas Daniel , Farre Ramon TITLE=Potential Role of Adult Stem Cells in Obstructive Sleep Apnea JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology VOLUME=3 YEAR=2012 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2012.00112 DOI=10.3389/fneur.2012.00112 ISSN=1664-2295 ABSTRACT=

Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can be mobilized from the bone marrow or other organs, home into injured tissues, and differentiate into different cell phenotypes to serve in a repairing capacity. Furthermore, these cells can respond to inflammation and oxidative stress by exhibiting immunomodulatory properties. The protective and reparative roles of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs), and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have primarily been examined and characterized in auto-immune and cardiovascular diseases. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a very prevalent disease (4–5% of adult population and 2–3% of children) characterized by an abnormal increase in upper airway collapsibility. Recurrent airway obstructions elicit arterial oxygen desaturations, increased inspiratory efforts, and sleep fragmentation, which have been associated with important long-term neurocognitive, metabolic, and cardiovascular consequences. Since inflammation, oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction are key factors in the development of the morbid consequences of OSA, bone marrow-derived stem cells could be important modulators of the morbid phenotype by affording a protective role. This mini-review is focused on the recent data available on EPCs, VSELs, and MSCs in both animal models and patients with OSA.