New Research Identifies Potential Treatment Target for Sleep Apnea

A recent study on mice has identified a potential target for treating cardiovascular complications associated with obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder affecting millions worldwide. Presented at ASM Microbe 2026, the study suggests that modifying bile acids through gut microbiota could mitigate the heart and metabolic impacts of the condition.

Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, leading to oxygen deprivation and increased carbon dioxide levels in the body. This condition contributes to various health problems, including heart disease. Researchers found that alterations in bile acids, which are produced by the liver and are critical for fat digestion, also serve as chemical messengers affecting different receptors in the body.

Prior findings indicated that microbial modifications of bile acids could influence the accumulation of fatty arterial plaques. The study’s lead author, Celeste Allaband, DVM, Ph.D., from the University of California, San Diego, noted the need to understand the impact of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) on this process. To this end, the researchers examined two groups of mice: those genetically predisposed to heart disease (ApoE knock-outs) and those with both heart disease susceptibility and the absence of the FXR receptor (ApoE/FXR knock-outs).

Both groups were subjected to normal sleeping conditions and conditions mimicking sleep apnea. Researchers analyzed gut microbes and metabolites from fecal samples, as well as the presence of fatty plaques in the heart at the conclusion of the experiment.

The findings revealed that the absence of the FXR receptor significantly reduced the development of arterial plaques in certain areas, while also lessening disruptions to the gut microbiome. However, some plaques were still present on the pulmonary artery. Allaband stated, “Our study shows that the FXR host receptor, which can be activated or deactivated by bile acids, plays a central role in driving the buildup of fatty plaques during sleep apnea-like conditions.”

Moving forward, the research team plans to investigate human datasets for similar patterns and explore whether specific bile acid supplementation or targeted probiotic treatments could prevent or alleviate sleep apnea-related diseases. Allaband expressed enthusiasm for potential future research developments in this area.