Impact of FASN-enriched EVs on endothelial cell function in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

Yuan Tian; Dan Zhang; Huaian Yang; Xiaoli Zhang; Shengqun Xu

doi:10.1016/j.jpha.2025.101251

Impact of FASN-enriched EVs on endothelial cell function in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

J Pharm Anal. 2025 May;15(5):101251. doi: 10.1016/j.jpha.2025.101251. Epub 2025 Mar 1.

Authors

Yuan Tian¹, Dan Zhang², Huaian Yang³, Xiaoli Zhang⁴, Shengqun Xu³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
² Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, China.
³ Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck Surgery Comprehensive Ward, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110020, China.
⁴ Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, China.

Abstract

Endothelial dysfunction is a key factor linking obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) with cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we used advanced proteomics and metabolomics approaches to investigate the impact of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from the serum of OSAHS patients on endothelial function. Our multi-omics analysis identified dysregulated pathways related to fatty acid metabolism, apoptosis regulation, and inflammatory responses, highlighting fatty acid synthase (FASN) as a crucial player in OSAHS-induced endothelial dysfunction. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that FASN-enriched EVs impair endothelial cell viability and disrupt metabolic homeostasis, offering new insights for the development of targeted therapies for cardiovascular complications associated with OSAHS.

Keywords: Extracellular vesicles; Fatty acid metabolism; Fatty acid synthase; Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome; Proteomics.