Abstract
BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent respiratory condition that predominantly occurs during sleep and is marked by complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway. Aging represents a significant risk factor for OSA, and the biomolecular mechanisms linking aging to OSA remain incompletely elucidated. METHODS: This research integrates bioinformatics and machine learning methods. Furthermore, potential biomarkers were subjected to further screening and validation through machine learning algorithmsithms, providing molecular insights for the diagnosis and treatment of OSA. Finally, we validated the expression of the hub SRG Early growth response factor-1 (EGR1) by sc-RNA-seq analysis and explored the underlying mechanism of EGR1 in AT2 and mouse cellular senescence. RESULTS: Studies have identified differentially expressed genes and gene co-expression modules that are significantly associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). These modules are found to be closely linked to aging processes and immune responses, as evidenced by the integration of differential co-expression and differential expression analyses in cancer research. Functional enrichment analysis showed that these genes participate in various biological processes, such as inflammatory responses and immune cell signaling pathways. Furthermore, EGR1, a critical gene validated experimentally, has been shown to play a pivotal role in cellular senescence, immune regulation, and DNA damage response, as evidenced by its cellular localization and expression patterns under various physiological and pathological conditions. CONCLUSION: Recent studies have highlighted the pivotal role of aging-related genes, particularly EGR1, in the development of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The evidence suggests that EGR1 may be a viable therapeutic target, as seen in its potential application in treating fibrotic kidney disease, as well as its involvement in tumor gene-radiation therapy. These discoveries offer a scientific foundation for the development of personalized treatment strategies targeted at specific patient groups, potentially enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes for OSA patients. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12896-025-01067-0.