Contrasting effects of acute versus chronic intermittent hypoxia on leptin secretion in differentiated human adipocytes – Implications for sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder associated with repetitive episodes of nocturnal intermittent hypoxia (IH), obesity and elevated leptin. Newly diagnosed OSA patients have a history of significant recent weight gain. While IH is implicated in OSA pathophysiology, the factors...

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Main Authors: Kiran R. Somers, Christiane Becari, Katarzyna Polonis, Prachi Singh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405580825001177
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author Kiran R. Somers
Christiane Becari
Katarzyna Polonis
Prachi Singh
author_facet Kiran R. Somers
Christiane Becari
Katarzyna Polonis
Prachi Singh
author_sort Kiran R. Somers
collection DOAJ
description Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder associated with repetitive episodes of nocturnal intermittent hypoxia (IH), obesity and elevated leptin. Newly diagnosed OSA patients have a history of significant recent weight gain. While IH is implicated in OSA pathophysiology, the factors contributing to weight gain in OSA are not completely understood. Leptin is an adipokine with a central role in energy homeostasis and appetite control. Increases in leptin suppress appetite, while decreases in leptin increase appetite and may consequently cause weight gain. Using an in vitro approach, we examined the role of acute and chronic IH exposure on leptin secretion in differentiated human white preadipocytes. We show that acute 24-h exposure to IH and sustained hypoxia both increased leptin secretion, compared to normoxic controls (p = 0.01). In contrast, chronic repetitive IH exposure for 7 days decreased leptin secretion, compared to normoxic controls (p = 0.02). The decrease in leptin secretion during chronic IH exposure suggests a mechanism which may contribute to increased appetite and thereby predispose patients with untreated OSA to weight gain and obesity in early stages. As obesity progresses, leptin levels likely rise secondary to the increase in body fat. Elevated leptin levels in patients with longstanding OSA may be indicative of increased fat mass and not a consequence of IH-mediated effects on adipocytes.
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spelling doaj-art-e7d9a21477bf43dbbd940aa94e5792bd2025-08-20T02:37:38ZengElsevierBiochemistry and Biophysics Reports2405-58082025-06-014210203010.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102030Contrasting effects of acute versus chronic intermittent hypoxia on leptin secretion in differentiated human adipocytes – Implications for sleep apneaKiran R. Somers0Christiane Becari1Katarzyna Polonis2Prachi Singh3Mayo Clinic, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Rochester, MN, USAMayo Clinic, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA; School of Dentistry of Bauru, University of Sao Paulo, Department of Biological Sciences, Bauru, SP, BrazilMayo Clinic, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA; Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Saint Louis, MO, USAMayo Clinic, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA; Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Corresponding author. Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder associated with repetitive episodes of nocturnal intermittent hypoxia (IH), obesity and elevated leptin. Newly diagnosed OSA patients have a history of significant recent weight gain. While IH is implicated in OSA pathophysiology, the factors contributing to weight gain in OSA are not completely understood. Leptin is an adipokine with a central role in energy homeostasis and appetite control. Increases in leptin suppress appetite, while decreases in leptin increase appetite and may consequently cause weight gain. Using an in vitro approach, we examined the role of acute and chronic IH exposure on leptin secretion in differentiated human white preadipocytes. We show that acute 24-h exposure to IH and sustained hypoxia both increased leptin secretion, compared to normoxic controls (p = 0.01). In contrast, chronic repetitive IH exposure for 7 days decreased leptin secretion, compared to normoxic controls (p = 0.02). The decrease in leptin secretion during chronic IH exposure suggests a mechanism which may contribute to increased appetite and thereby predispose patients with untreated OSA to weight gain and obesity in early stages. As obesity progresses, leptin levels likely rise secondary to the increase in body fat. Elevated leptin levels in patients with longstanding OSA may be indicative of increased fat mass and not a consequence of IH-mediated effects on adipocytes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405580825001177HypoxiaAdipocytesLeptinSleep apnea
spellingShingle Kiran R. Somers
Christiane Becari
Katarzyna Polonis
Prachi Singh
Contrasting effects of acute versus chronic intermittent hypoxia on leptin secretion in differentiated human adipocytes – Implications for sleep apnea
Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports
Hypoxia
Adipocytes
Leptin
Sleep apnea
title Contrasting effects of acute versus chronic intermittent hypoxia on leptin secretion in differentiated human adipocytes – Implications for sleep apnea
title_full Contrasting effects of acute versus chronic intermittent hypoxia on leptin secretion in differentiated human adipocytes – Implications for sleep apnea
title_fullStr Contrasting effects of acute versus chronic intermittent hypoxia on leptin secretion in differentiated human adipocytes – Implications for sleep apnea
title_full_unstemmed Contrasting effects of acute versus chronic intermittent hypoxia on leptin secretion in differentiated human adipocytes – Implications for sleep apnea
title_short Contrasting effects of acute versus chronic intermittent hypoxia on leptin secretion in differentiated human adipocytes – Implications for sleep apnea
title_sort contrasting effects of acute versus chronic intermittent hypoxia on leptin secretion in differentiated human adipocytes implications for sleep apnea
topic Hypoxia
Adipocytes
Leptin
Sleep apnea
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405580825001177
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