Another study using Apoe −/− mice revealed that intermittent hypoxia/hypercapnia (IHC) synergizes with a high-fat diet to exacerbate atherosclerosis mediated by gut microbiota shifts (e.g., Akkermansiaceae enrichment Muribaculaceae depletion) and bile acid dysregulation with aortic lesions being microbiota-dependent while pulmonary artery lesions remain unaffected suggesting microbiota-targeted therapies for OSA-induced vascular damage (Xue et al., 2025). The gene discussed is APOE; the disease is atherosclerosis.