Considering the role of SQLE protein in cholesterol synthesis and cholesterol's pivotal role in cellular signalling modulation via lipid rafts,57 we hypothesized that SQLE silencing reduced intracellular cholesterol levels and subsequently deactivated the FAK/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway and finally inhibited OSA progression. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.