Beclin-1 increases with obstructive sleep apnea severity.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common chronic disorder that leads to chronic intermittent hypoxia described as an important factor contributing to the pathogenesis of OSA-related comorbidities. Besides, recent data suggest that intermittent hypoxia can induce adaptative cardiovascular pathways inducing a relative resistance to ischemic insults. Adaptative pathways induced by hypoxia could implicate autophagic processes and Beclin-1, one of the first mammalian autophagy effectors. Thus, activation of autophagy could protect against cardiovascular events in patients with OSA and could be considered as biomarker of a better prognosis.