LEP and sleep apnea syndrome: Moreover, there is a positive correlation between IL-6 or TNF alpha plasma levels and the BMI.[35–39] There is cumulative data suggesting that obesity is characterized by chronic activation of inflammatory pathways in peripheral tissues leading to a state of insulin resistance and hypofunctioning hypothalamic C releasing hormone, which results in sleep-disordered breathing.[40, 41] Along with this theory of systemic inflammatory response comes the discovery of the protein leptin as an important factor in inducing or driving OHS.