Sleep Apnea affects lacrimal gland structure and function and induces dry eye

China: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) disturbs the Hifα/Pparα/NF-κB signaling axis compromising lacrimal gland structure and function resulting in dry eye, finds a recent study in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. The findings imply that a therapeutic approach targeting the Hifα/Pparα/NF-κB pathway may be helpful in preserving the function of the lacrimal gland and reducing dry eye symptoms exacerbated by OSA. 

Shaopan Wang, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China, and colleagues conducted the study with the objective to determine the effect of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) on lacrimal gland function and its mechanism. 

For this purpose, male mice aged seven to eight weeks were housed in cages with cyclic intermittent hypoxia to mimic OSA, and the control group was kept in a normal environment. Cornea changes were assessed using slit-lamp observation, fluorescein staining, and corneal sensitivity detection.

Phenol red cotton thread detected tear secretion, and the pathological changes of the lacrimal gland were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, oil red O staining, cholesterol and triglyceride kits, immunofluorescence staining, immunohistochemical staining, real-time polymerase chain reaction, transmission electron microscopy, and Western blot. 

"Our study suggests that OSA is a causative factor for dry eye disease and reveals a mechanism by which OSA could lead to abnormal lacrimal gland lipid metabolism through the Hif-Pparα signaling pathway, ultimately triggering manifestations of dry eye."

Reference:

Shaopan Wang, Xin He, Qingmin Li, Yuhan Zhang, Jiaoyue Hu, Rongrong Zong, Jingyi Zhuang, Andrew J. Quantock, Yingying Gao, Wei Li, Zuguo Liu; Obstructive Sleep Apnea Affects Lacrimal Gland Function. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2022;63(3):3. doi: https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.63.3.3.