Nuclear factor kappa B activation in cardiomyocytes by serum of children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is associated with cardiovascular morbidity in adults and children. NFκB activity is enhanced in circulating monocytes of adults with OSA, that decreases following positive pressure therapy. OSA children’s serum activates NFκB in a cell line. We hypothesized that OSA children’s serum can activate NFκB in cardiomyocytes (CM) and effect their viability. In order to explore the role played by NFκB in OSA cardiovascular pathophysiology, rat, mouse and human immortalized CM were exposed to human serum drawn from OSA children and matched controls. Increased expression of NFκB classical subunits p65/p50 as well as major morphological changes occurred in cardiomyocytes following OSA’s serum exposure. OSA children’s serum induced NFκB activity as measured by p65 nuclear translocation in immortalized human CM and rat cardiomyocytes as well as dense immunostaining of the nucleus. Trypan blue and XTT assays showed that OSA sera induced CM apoptosis. We conclude that NFκB is systemically activated in cardiomyocytes, who also demonstrate decreased viability and contractility following exposure to OSA serum. It supports the hypothesis NFκB plays a role in the evolution of cardiovascular morbidity in OSA. It may support the search for new therapeutic interventions controlling NFκB activation in OSA.