Indeed, nocturnal oxyhemoglobin desaturation in patients with OSA has been independently associated with atherosclerosis as assessed by increased carotid artery intima-media thickness [38;39] that can be reversed with continuous positive airway pressure therapy.[40] Given that exposure to intermittent hypoxia in healthy subjects, as done in the current study, can induce insulin resistance, [16] it is certainly possible that systemic induction of TLR2 may also lead to the development of insulin resistance in OSA. This evidence concerns the gene TLR2 and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.