Research Information System
International Molecular Immunology & Immunogenetics Congress V (MIMIC V), İzmir, Turkey, 20 - 22 October 2022, pp.47
Objective: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sleep disorder that occurs with uncomfortable
sensation and an urge to move, especially in the legs at rest. It has been shown that iron/ferritin
deficiency, dysregulation of dopaminergic mechanisms and genetic factors play an active role
in the disease. In addition, reports show that infectious diseases such as small intestinal bacterial
overgrowth and HIV infection increase the prevalence of restless legs syndrome. Obstructive
sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is one of the most common sleep disorders. Studies conducted
with OSAS patients have shown that inflammatory processes associated with OSAS may play
a role in the pathophysiology of the disease. The objective of this study was to investigate the
relationship between RLS and immune system elements.
Methods: Fourteen RLS patients, 15 RLS patients with OSAS (RLS+OSAS) and 10 healthy
subjects were included in the study. T, B, NK, NKT and ILC cell ratio; intracellular IFN-γ, IL6, IL-10, IL-13 cytokines in T, B, NK cells; CD8+ T and NK cell cytotoxic activity were
analyzed by flow cytometry. IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13 levels in plasma
samples were evaluated with bead-based soluble molecule assay.
Results and conclusion: Our results showed that compared to the healthy controls the ratio of
ILC-1 subset and IL-13+CD4+ T cells were increased in RLS and RLS+OSAS patients but the
levels of ILC-2 cells were decreased. When the NK cytotoxic activity of RLS patients were
evaluated, it was found that the NK perforin levels were lower than OSAS+RLS patients and
healthy subjects. Plasma IFN-γ and IL-13 levels were found elevated in the RLS patients with
OSAS compared to the healthy subjects and RLS patients. In conclusion, our study revealed
that both innate and adaptive immune system elements play a role in RLS.