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Fan J, Liu Q, Chen T, Chen Y, Wu J. Identification of cuproptosis-related genes related to the progression of ankylosing spondylitis by integrated bioinformatics analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e38313. [PMID: 39213249 PMCID: PMC11365630 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000038313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an autoimmune disease, and the relationship between copper death and AS is not clear. The aim of this study was to analyze and identify potential cuprosis-related genes associated with the onset of AS by bioinformatics methods. We obtained the AS gene expression profile GSE25101 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, which consists of blood samples from 16 active AS patients and 16 sex-and age-matched controls. After analyzing the data, we utilized the WGCNA method to identify genes that exhibited significant differential expression. In order to assess the prognostic and predictive power of these genes, we constructed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. To further validate our predictions, we employed nomograms, calibration curves, decision curve analysis, and external datasets. Lastly, we conducted an analysis on immune infiltration and explored the correlation between key genes and immune response. Three genes, namely INPP5E, CYB5R1, and HGD, have been identified through analysis to be associated with AS. The diagnosis of patients using these genes has been found to possess a high level of accuracy. The area under the ROC curve is reported to be 0.816 for INPP5E, 0.879 for CYB5R1, and also 0.879 for HGD. Furthermore, the nomogram demonstrates an excellent predictive power, and it has been calibrated using a Calibration curve. Its clinical usefulness and net benefit have been thoroughly analyzed and estimated through the use of a DCA curve. Moreover, INPP5E, CYB5R1, and HGD are found to be associated with various types of immune cells. In conclusion, the systematic analysis of cuprosis-related genes may aid in the identification of mechanisms related to copper-induced cell death in AS and offer valuable biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyi Fan
- Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Zhongshan, Zhongshan, China
| | - Qihua Liu
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Internal Medicine Dept. 5 Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Zhongshan, Zhongshan, China
| | - Yongbin Chen
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Junzhe Wu
- Orthopaedics Dept. 1 Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Zhongshan, Zhongshan, China
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Yao Q, He L, Bao C, Yan X, Ao J. The role of TNF-α in osteoporosis, bone repair and inflammatory bone diseases: A review. Tissue Cell 2024; 89:102422. [PMID: 39003912 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2024.102422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a pleiotropic cytokine synthesised primarily by mononuclear cells; it has a potent pro-inflammatory effect, playing a crucial role in metabolic, immune, and inflammatory diseases. This cytokine has been studied in various biological systems. In bone tissue, TNF-α plays an integral role in skeletal disorders such as osteoporosis, fracture repair and rheumatoid arthritis through its involvement in regulating the balance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts, mediating inflammatory responses, promoting angiogenesis and exacerbating synovial proliferation. The biological effect TNF-α exerts in this context is determined by a combination of the signalling pathway it activates, the type of receptor it binds, and the concentration and duration of exposure. This review summarises the participation and pathophysiological role of TNF-α in osteoporosis, bone damage repair, chronic immunoinflammatory bone disease and spinal cord injury, and discusses its main mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Li He
- Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, China.
| | | | - Xuhang Yan
- Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, China.
| | - Jun Ao
- Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, China.
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Wen P, Zhao Y, Yang M, Yang P, Nan K, Liu L, Xu P. Identification of necroptosis-related genes in ankylosing spondylitis by bioinformatics and experimental validation. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18557. [PMID: 39031474 PMCID: PMC11258886 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) remains unclear, and while recent studies have implicated necroptosis in various autoimmune diseases, an investigation of its relationship with AS has not been reported. In this study, we utilized the Gene Expression Omnibus database to compare gene expressions between AS patients and healthy controls, identifying 18 differentially expressed necroptosis-related genes (DENRGs), with 8 upregulated and 10 downregulated. Through the application of three machine learning algorithms-least absolute shrinkage and selection operation, support vector machine-recursive feature elimination and random forest-two hub genes, FASLG and TARDBP, were pinpointed. These genes demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity for AS diagnosis, as evidenced by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. These findings were further supported by external datasets and cellular experiments, which confirmed the downregulation of FASLG and upregulation of TARDBP in AS patients. Immune cell infiltration analysis suggested that CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, NK cells and neutrophils may be associated with the development of AS. Notably, in the group with high FASLG expression, there was a significant infiltration of CD8+ T cells, memory-activated CD4+ T cells and resting NK cells, with relatively less infiltration of memory-resting CD4+ T cells and neutrophils. Conversely, in the group with high TARDBP expression, there was enhanced infiltration of naïve CD4+ T cells and M0 macrophages, with a reduced presence of memory-resting CD4+ T cells. In summary, FASLG and TARDBP may contribute to AS pathogenesis by regulating the immune microenvironment and immune-related signalling pathways. These findings offer new insights into the molecular mechanisms of AS and suggest potential new targets for therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Wen
- Department of Joint Surgery, Honghui HospitalXi'an Jiaotong UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Laboratory, Honghui HospitalXi'an Jiaotong UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Mingyi Yang
- Department of Joint Surgery, Honghui HospitalXi'an Jiaotong UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Peng Yang
- Department of Joint Surgery, Honghui HospitalXi'an Jiaotong UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Kai Nan
- Department of Joint Surgery, Honghui HospitalXi'an Jiaotong UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Lin Liu
- Department of Joint Surgery, Honghui HospitalXi'an Jiaotong UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Peng Xu
- Department of Joint Surgery, Honghui HospitalXi'an Jiaotong UniversityShaanxiChina
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Chen DQ, Xu WB, Que ZQ, Xiao KY, Sun NK, Cai DX, Feng JY, Rui G. Therapeutic potential of single-nucleotide polymorphism-mediated IL6R inhibitors in ankylosing spondylitis treatment. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1368346. [PMID: 38835791 PMCID: PMC11148286 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1368346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multiple-effect cell factor implicated in the etiopathogenesis of several rheumatologic disorders. The blockade of the IL-6 pathway via IL6R inhibitors effectively treats these disorders. However, the clinical significance of the IL6R blockade for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) therapy remains controversial. With advances in genomics, increasing evidence has revealed the role of heritability in the etiology of disease, and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses are being used more broadly to infer causation. Therefore, this MR study aims to evaluate the potential therapeutic utility of IL6R-targeted approaches in AS. Methods The C-reactive protein (CRP) level was used as an exposure factor, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was used as a positive control. As-related genome-wide association study (GWAS) data were used as the primary outcome of drug-targeted MR analyses to test the relation between IL6R blockers and AS. Inverse variance weighting (IVW) is the primary analytical approach. Various sensitivity tests were performed to check the robustness and trustworthiness of the causality estimation, including consistency, heterogeneity, and pleiotropy analyses. In addition, repeated analysis was conducted using different GWAS data related to exposures and outcomes to examine the results for stability. Results According to the IVW results, IL6R inhibitors significantly reduced the risk of AS in ukb-b-18194 (OR: 0.995, 95% CI 0.993-0.996, P = 5.12 × 10-08) and ukb-a-88 (OR: 0.994, 95% CI 0.993-0.996, P = 6.25 × 10-15). Moreover, repeated analyses were performed using different exposure-related GWAS data, yielding similar results, ukb-b-18194 (OR: 0.995, 95% CI 0.993-0.997, P = 1.25 × 10-06) and ukb-a-88 (OR: 0.995, 95% CI 0.994-0.997, P = 7.81 × 10-09). Heterogeneity analyses and pleiotropy analyses indicated no significant heterogeneity or pleiotropy. Conclusion This MR analysis result further validates that the IL-6 pathway may contribute to the pathogenesis of AS and that the inhibition of IL6R reduces the risk of AS. These findings may guide future studies and provide more favorable drug treatment options for people at high risk of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ding-Qiang Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wen-Bin Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Que
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ke-Yi Xiao
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Nai-Kun Sun
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Di-Xin Cai
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jin-Yi Feng
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Gang Rui
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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Wang G, Li Y, Liu J, Zhang Q, Cai W, Li X. Heat shock protein-related diagnostic signature and molecular subtypes in ankylosing spondylitis: new pathogenesis insights. Int J Hyperthermia 2024; 41:2336149. [PMID: 38679420 DOI: 10.1080/02656736.2024.2336149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Heat shock proteins (HSP) have been associated with a range of persistent inflammatory disorders; however, little research has been conducted on the involvement of HSP in the development of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The research aims to identify a diagnostic signature based on HSP-related genes and determine the molecular subtypes of AS. We gathered the transcriptional data of patients with AS from the GSE73754 dataset and conducted a literature search for HSP-related genes (HRGs). The logistic regression model was utilized for the identification of hub HRGs associated with AS. Subsequently, these HRGs were employed in the construction of a nomogram prediction model. We employed a consensus clustering approach to identify novel molecular subgroups. Subsequently, we conducted functional analyses, encompassing GO, KEGG, and GSEA, to elucidate the underlying mechanisms between these subgroups. To assess the immunological landscape, we employed the xCell algorithm. Through logistic regression analysis, the four core HRGs (CCT2, HSPA6, DNAJB14, and DNAJC5) were confirmed as potential biomarkers for AS. Subsequent stratification revealed two distinct molecular phenotypes, designated as Cluster 1 and Cluster 2. Notably, Cluster 2 was characterized by the upregulation of pathways pertinent to immune response and inflammation. Our research suggests that the CCT2, HSPA6, DNAJB14, and DNAJC5 exhibit potential as effective blood-based diagnostic biomarkers for AS. These findings contribute to a deeper comprehension of the underlying mechanisms involved in the development of AS and offer potential targets for personalized therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geqiang Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology III, The First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Yongji Li
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology I, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Jiaxing Liu
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology III, The First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology III, The First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Weixin Cai
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology III, The First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Xiaodong Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
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Muhsin HY, Khazaal AQ, Ismaeel HM, Alosami MH, Ad'hiah AH. Evaluation of interleukins (IL-1α, IL-1Ra, IL-12, IL-17A, IL-31, and IL-33) and chemokines (CXCL10 and CXCL16) in the serum of male patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 129:111697. [PMID: 38364743 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A case-control study was performed to explore eight pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, namely interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1Ra (IL-1 receptor antagonist), IL-12, IL-17A, IL-31, IL-33, CXCL10 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10), and CXCL16, with the aim to understand their role in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) pathogenesis and evaluate their utility as markers to differentiate between diseased and healthy individuals. Among these cytokines, IL-31 and CXCL16 have not been well studied in AS. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 94 male patients with AS and 91 age-matched control males. Interleukin and chemokine levels were measured using ELISA kits. RESULTS Serum levels of IL-17A, CXCL10, and CXCL16 were significantly elevated in patients compared to controls, while IL-31 levels were significantly decreased in patients. IL-17A, CXCL10, and CXCL16 were associated with an increased risk of AS, while IL-31 was associated with a decreased risk of disease (odds ratio = 1.22, 1.78, 1.14, and 0.89, respectively). As indicated by the area under the curve (AUC), IL-17A, IL-31, CXCL10, and CXCL16 were potential markers to differentiate between AS patients and controls (AUC = 0.877, 0.735, 0.8, and 0.7, respectively). IL-1α, IL-1Ra, IL-12, and IL-33 levels showed no significant variations between patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS Among the eight cytokines examined, IL-17A, CXCL10, and CXCL16 were up-regulated in the serum of AS patients, while IL-31 was down-regulated. The levels of IL-1α, IL-1Ra, IL-12, and IL-33 showed no significant differences between patients and controls. Serum levels of all cytokines were not affected by disease duration, HLA-B27 positivity, or disease activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan Y Muhsin
- Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Science (Ibn Al-Haitham), University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Ali Q Khazaal
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Haneen M Ismaeel
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Mohammed H Alosami
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Ali H Ad'hiah
- Tropical-Biological Research Unit, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
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Alotaibi A, Albarrak D, Alammari Y. The Efficacy and Safety of Biologics in Treating Ankylosing Spondylitis and Their Impact on Quality of Life and Comorbidities: A Literature Review. Cureus 2024; 16:e55459. [PMID: 38571822 PMCID: PMC10988185 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.55459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis that affects the axial skeleton, causing intense pain, progressive joint destruction, and a gradual reduction in physical function. Additionally, AS can result in extra-musculoskeletal manifestations including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), psoriasis, and acute anterior uveitis (AAU) affecting patients' quality of life (QoL). Furthermore, AS association with neurological and cardiovascular events has been documented. With the advent of biologics, treating AS has dramatically changed due to their high efficacy and tolerable safety. Nevertheless, there are differences in traits, including rapidity of onset, long-term efficacy, safety profile, and influence on comorbidities. A better understanding of such traits enables clinicians to make the best decision for each patient, increasing persistence, extending medication survival, enhancing patient satisfaction, and reducing the disease effect of AS. A review of the literature published in English in PubMed and Google Scholar databases from 2010 to 2023 was conducted. All relevant results fitting the scope of the topic were included. In this article, we emphasize biologics' efficacy and safety profile in patients with AS. In addition, we discuss the impact of biologics on comorbidities and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Danah Albarrak
- College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Yousef Alammari
- College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU
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Madahar SS, Gideon A, Abdul-Sater AA. Nod-like receptors in inflammatory arthritis. Biomed J 2024; 47:100655. [PMID: 37598797 PMCID: PMC10825342 DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2023.100655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Nod-like receptors (NLRs) are innate immune receptors that play a key role in sensing components from pathogens and from damaged cells or organelles. NLRs form signaling complexes that can lead to activation of transcription factors or effector caspases - by means of inflammasome activation -Inflammatory arthritis (IA) culminating in promoting inflammation. An increasing body of research supports the role of NLRs in driving pathogenesis of IA, a collection of diseases that include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis, and pediatric arthritis. In this review, we briefly discuss the main drivers of IA diseases and dive into the evidence for - and against - various NLRs in driving these diseases. We also review the studies examining the use of NLR and inflammasome inhibitors as potential therapies for IA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahib Singh Madahar
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Muscle Health Research Centre, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alita Gideon
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Muscle Health Research Centre, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ali A Abdul-Sater
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Muscle Health Research Centre, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Guo D, Liu J, Li S, Xu P. Analysis of m6A regulators related immune characteristics in ankylosing spondylitis by integrated bioinformatics and computational strategies. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2724. [PMID: 38302672 PMCID: PMC10834589 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53184-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, as a common epigenetic modification, has been widely studied in autoimmune diseases. However, the role of m6A in the regulation of the immune microenvironment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of m6A modification on the immune microenvironment of AS. We first evaluated RNA modification patterns mediated by 26 m6A regulators in 52 AS samples and 20 healthy samples. Thereafter, an m6A related classifier composed of seven genes was constructed and could effectively distinguish healthy and AS samples. Then, the correlation between m6A regulators and immune characteristics were investigated, including infiltrating immunocytes, immune reactions activity, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes expression. The results indicated that m6A regulators was closely correlated with immune characteristics. For example, EIF3A was significantly related to infiltrating immunocytes; IGF2BP2 and EIF3A were significant regulators in immune reaction of TGF-β family member, and the expression of HLA-DPA1 and HLA-E were affected by EIF3A and ALKBH5. Next, two distinct m6A expression patterns were identified through unsupervised clustering analysis, and diverse immune characteristics were found between them. A total of 5889 m6A phenotype-related genes were obtained between the two expression patterns, and their biological functions were revealed. Finally, we validated the expression status of m6A modification regulators using two additional datasets. Our findings illustrate that m6A modifications play a critical role in the diversity and complexity of the AS immune microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Guo
- Osteonecrosis and Joint Reconstruction Ward, Department of Joint Surgery, HongHui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jiayi Liu
- Xinglin College, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, 110167, Liaoning, China
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, Shaanxi, China
| | - Peng Xu
- Osteonecrosis and Joint Reconstruction Ward, Department of Joint Surgery, HongHui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China.
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Fei Y, Yu H, Wu Y, Gong S. The causal relationship between immune cells and ankylosing spondylitis: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study. Arthritis Res Ther 2024; 26:24. [PMID: 38229175 PMCID: PMC10790477 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-024-03266-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is one of several disorders known as seronegative spinal arthritis (SpA), the origin of which is unknown. Existing epidemiological data show that inflammatory and immunological factors are important in the development of AS. Previous research on the connection between immunological inflammation and AS, however, has shown inconclusive results. METHODS To evaluate the causal association between immunological characteristics and AS, a bidirectional, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach was performed in this study. We investigated the causal connection between 731 immunological feature characteristic cells and AS risk using large, publically available genome-wide association studies. RESULTS After FDR correction, two immunophenotypes were found to be significantly associated with AS risk: CD14 - CD16 + monocyte (OR, 0.669; 95% CI, 0.544 ~ 0.823; P = 1.46 × 10-4; PFDR = 0.043), CD33dim HLA DR + CD11b + (OR, 0.589; 95% CI = 0.446 ~ 0.780; P = 2.12 × 10-4; PFDR = 0.043). AS had statistically significant effects on six immune traits: CD8 on HLA DR + CD8 + T cell (OR, 1.029; 95% CI, 1.015 ~ 1.043; P = 4.46 × 10-5; PFDR = 0.014), IgD on IgD + CD24 + B cell (OR, 0.973; 95% CI, 0.960 ~ 0.987; P = 1.2 × 10-4; PFDR = 0.021), IgD on IgD + CD38 - unswitched memory B cell (OR, 0.962; 95% CI, 0.945 ~ 0.980; P = 3.02 × 10-5; PFDR = 0.014), CD8 + natural killer T %lymphocyte (OR, 0.973; 95% CI, 0.959 ~ 0.987; P = 1.92 × 10-4; PFDR = 0.021), CD8 + natural killer T %T cell (OR, 0.973; 95% CI, 0.959 ~ 0.987; P = 1.65 × 10-4; PFDR = 0.021). CONCLUSION Our findings extend genetic research into the intimate link between immune cells and AS, which can help guide future clinical and basic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchang Fei
- Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Jiashan, Jiashan Hospital Affiliated of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Huan Yu
- The Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yulun Wu
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shanshan Gong
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Feng X, Qiao J, Xu W. Impact of immune regulation and differentiation dysfunction of mesenchymal stem cells on the disease process in ankylosing spondylitis and prospective analysis of stem cell transplantation therapy. Postgrad Med J 2023; 99:1138-1147. [PMID: 37689998 DOI: 10.1093/postmj/qgad073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a rheumatic bone and joint disease caused by inflammation, erosion, and pathological bone formation. The pathological features of chronic inflammation, bone destruction, and pathological ossification occur due to the disruption of the body's immune regulation and altered bone remodeling balance. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have multidirectional differentiation potential and immunomodulatory functions and play an important role in immune regulation and bone formation. The immune regulation and osteogenic capacity of MSCs in AS are altered by factors such as genetic background, internal environment, infection, and mechanical forces that drive disease development. This review further evaluates the role of MSCs dysfunction in inflammation and pathological bone formation by analyzing the effects of the above-mentioned factors on MSCs function and also looks forward to the prospects of MSCs in treating AS, providing some ideas for an in-depth study of inflammation and ectopic ossification. KEY MESSAGES
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinzhe Feng
- Department of Joint Bone Disease Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Junjie Qiao
- Department of Joint Bone Disease Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Weidong Xu
- Department of Joint Bone Disease Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200433, China
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Zheng Z, Wang Y, Guo M, Guo J, Cui J, Zhu W, Cheng W, Liu Y, Cui H. Estradiol is a key candidate for treating Ankylosing Spondylolisthesis with Traditional Chinese Medicine. Comput Biol Med 2023; 164:107206. [PMID: 37515871 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Some Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has shown anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects on Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) treatment. Wan Bikang (WBK) and Wan Biqing (WBQ) are two traditional empirical formulas for AS. However, the mechanism of their effects on AS is largely unknown. This study deciphered the underlying common molecular mechanisms of these TCM treatments for AS. The ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-triple/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) assays were employed to detect herbal ingredients. Target proteins of herbal ingredients were identified by ChEMBL Database. To infer the relationships between ingredients and AS-related proteins, network pharmacology was employed. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and core target analyses were carried out with tools Cytoscape and STRING. To find out the molecular basis and target of AS, molecular docking and an in vitro experiment were also conducted. It is found that estradiol may participate in the treatment of AS via the inhibition of inflammatory factors, and Estrogen Receptor 1 (ESR1) appears to be a key target. This research offers insight into the therapeutic mechanism of TCM formulas for AS and furthers our understanding of TCM pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Zheng
- Luoyang Orthopedic-Traumatological Hospital of Henan Province (Henan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital), Luoyang, Henan, China
| | - Yidi Wang
- Luoyang Orthopedic-Traumatological Hospital of Henan Province (Henan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital), Luoyang, Henan, China
| | - Malong Guo
- Luoyang Orthopedic-Traumatological Hospital of Henan Province (Henan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital), Luoyang, Henan, China
| | - Jiayi Guo
- Luoyang Orthopedic-Traumatological Hospital of Henan Province (Henan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital), Luoyang, Henan, China
| | - Jiaxuan Cui
- Zhengzhou Foreign Language Middle School. Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Wenxiao Zhu
- Luoyang Orthopedic-Traumatological Hospital of Henan Province (Henan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital), Luoyang, Henan, China
| | - Weidong Cheng
- Luoyang Orthopedic-Traumatological Hospital of Henan Province (Henan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital), Luoyang, Henan, China
| | - Yonghui Liu
- Luoyang Orthopedic-Traumatological Hospital of Henan Province (Henan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital), Luoyang, Henan, China
| | - Hongxun Cui
- Luoyang Orthopedic-Traumatological Hospital of Henan Province (Henan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital), Luoyang, Henan, China.
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Li X, Li X, Wang H, Zhao X. Exploring hub pyroptosis-related genes, molecular subtypes, and potential drugs in ankylosing spondylitis by comprehensive bioinformatics analysis and molecular docking. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2023; 24:532. [PMID: 37386410 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-023-06664-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease, and the diagnosis and treatment of AS have been limited because its pathogenesis is still unclear. Pyroptosis is a proinflammatory type of cell death that plays an important role in the immune system. However, the relationship between pyroptosis genes and AS has never been elucidated. METHODS GSE73754, GSE25101, and GSE221786 datasets were collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed pyroptosis-related genes (DE-PRGs) were identified by R software. Machine learning and PPI networks were used to screen key genes to construct a diagnostic model of AS. AS patients were clustered into different pyroptosis subtypes according to DE-PRGs using consensus cluster analysis and validated using principal component analysis (PCA). WGCNA was used for screening hub gene modules between two subtypes. Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were used for enrichment analysis to elucidate underlying mechanisms. The ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms were used to reveal immune signatures. The connectivity map (CMAP) database was used to predict potential drugs for the treatment of AS. Molecular docking was used to calculate the binding affinity between potential drugs and the hub gene. RESULTS Sixteen DE-PRGs were detected in AS compared to healthy controls, and some of these genes showed a significant correlation with immune cells such as neutrophils, CD8 + T cells, and resting NK cells. Enrichment analysis showed that DE-PRGs were mainly related to pyroptosis, IL-1β, and TNF signaling pathways. The key genes (TNF, NLRC4, and GZMB) screened by machine learning and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were used to establish the diagnostic model of AS. ROC analysis showed that the diagnostic model had good diagnostic properties in GSE73754 (AUC: 0.881), GSE25101 (AUC: 0.797), and GSE221786 (AUC: 0.713). Using 16 DE-PRGs, AS patients were divided into C1 and C2 subtypes, and these two subtypes showed significant differences in immune infiltration. A key gene module was identified from the two subtypes using WGCNA, and enrichment analysis suggested that the module was mainly related to immune function. Three potential drugs, including ascorbic acid, RO 90-7501, and celastrol, were selected based on CMAP analysis. Cytoscape showed GZMB as the highest-scoring hub gene. Finally, molecular docking results showed that GZMB and ascorbic acid formed three hydrogen bonds, including ARG-41, LYS-40, and HIS-57 (affinity: -5.3 kcal/mol). GZMB and RO-90-7501 formed one hydrogen bond, including CYS-136 (affinity: -8.8 kcal/mol). GZMB and celastrol formed three hydrogen bonds, including TYR-94, HIS-57, and LYS-40 (affinity: -9.4 kcal/mol). CONCLUSIONS Our research systematically analyzed the relationship between pyroptosis and AS. Pyroptosis may play an essential role in the immune microenvironment of AS. Our findings will contribute to a further understanding of the pathogenesis of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Henan University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiangying Li
- Henan University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hongqiang Wang
- Department of Surgery of Spine and Spinal Cord, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Intelligentized Orthopedics Innovation and Transformation, Henan Key Laboratory for Intelligent Precision Orthopedics, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, People's Hospital of Henan University, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Xiang Zhao
- Department of Surgery of Spine and Spinal Cord, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Intelligentized Orthopedics Innovation and Transformation, Henan Key Laboratory for Intelligent Precision Orthopedics, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, People's Hospital of Henan University, Zhengzhou, China.
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Shen D, Wang Z, Wang H, Zhu H, Jiang C, Xie F, Zhang H, Lv Q, Liu Q, Qi N, Wang H. Evaluation of preclinical efficacy of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in ankylosing spondylitis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1153927. [PMID: 37063838 PMCID: PMC10101200 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1153927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveUmbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) have significant regenerative, tissue repair, and immunomodulatory properties that can help reduce inflammatory responses in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). In this study, we used a combination of bovine proteoglycan and dimethyldioctadecylammonium (DDA) to establish a mouse model of proteoglycan-induced spondylitis (PGISp). To evaluate the therapeutic effects of UCMSCs, we treated PGISp mice with different doses of hUCMSCs via tail vein injection.MethodsAt week 13, the PGISp mice exhibited thickened, erythematous paws, erythema in the extremities, and lameness. CT scans revealed necrotic lysis of chondrocytes, formation of fissures, visible hemorrhage, connective tissue hyperplasia, and focal infiltration of lymphocytes in the intervertebral discs. At week 14, the PGISp mice were randomly divided into three groups and administered different doses of hUCMSCs (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0×107 cells/kg, iv, QOW×2, n=10). To assess the therapeutic effects of hUCMSCs, we evaluated Th cell subsets in the spleen, spleen and thymus coefficients, peripheral blood inflammatory factors, and pathological and imaging observations of the spines and lumbar spines in the PGISp mice.ResultsThe results demonstrated that injection of hUCMSCs shifted the balance axis between Th1 and Th2 cells in the spleen towards Th2 cells. Moreover, the spleen coefficient and levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and CCL-2) in the serum decreased after hUCMSC injection. CT imaging and pathological analysis indicated that hUCMSC treatment inhibited ectopic osteogenesis and maintained clear small joint gaps, which slowed down the progression of structural lesions in the disc, nucleus pulposus, fibrous ring, and cartilage in PGISp mice.ConclusionAdministering hUCMSCs at the 14th week after modeling proved to be an effective treatment for PGISp mice. This experiment offers a valuable reference for the pre-clinical use of hUCMSCs in the treatment of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Nianmin Qi
- *Correspondence: Nianmin Qi, ; Hao Wang,
| | - Hao Wang
- *Correspondence: Nianmin Qi, ; Hao Wang,
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Jaber AS, Ad'hiah AH. A novel signature of interleukins 36α, 37, 38, 39 and 40 in ankylosing spondylitis. Cytokine 2023; 162:156117. [PMID: 36586188 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.156117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The current study examined five cytokines, three belong to interleukin (IL)-1 family (IL-36α, IL-37 and IL-38), one belongs to IL-12 family (IL-39) and one has not been assigned to a family (IL-40), in the serum of 110 male patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and 103 male controls. Studies regarding these cytokines in AS are very limited. Therefore, the significance of IL-36α, IL-37, IL-38, IL-39 and IL-40 as biomarkers of AS was evaluated. Cytokine levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Results revealed that serum levels (median and interquartile range) of IL-36α (90.7; 53.7-166.2 vs 39.7; 31.3-59.2 pg/mL; probability [p] < 0.001), IL-37 (161.3; 62.8-236.6 vs 58.4; 46.8-80.7 ng/mL; p < 0.001), IL-38 (135.8; 78.2-213.5 vs 65.8; 51.1-87.1 pg/mL; p < 0.001), IL-39 (57.7; 34.1-92.3 vs 29.1; 19.3-58.6 ng/L; p < 0.001) and IL-40 (3.89; 2.99-6.19 vs 2.10; 1.75-2.68 ng/L; p < 0.001) were significantly higher in AS patients than in controls. Besides, they were of value in distinguishing between AS patients and controls as evidenced by the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis: area under the curve = 0.797 (IL-36α), 0.75 (IL-37), 0.797 (IL-38), 0.728 (IL-39) and 0.886 (IL-40). Some of these cytokines were significantly correlated, but no correlation with AS activity was found. In conclusion, the levels of IL-36α, IL-37, IL-38, IL-39 and IL-40 were up-regulated in the serum of AS patients regardless of age, age at disease onset, disease duration, disease activity or HLA-B27.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adhraa S Jaber
- Biotechnology Department, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Ali H Ad'hiah
- Tropical-Biological Research Unit, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
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Ding MH, Xu PG, Wang Y, Ren BD, Zhang JL. Resveratrol Attenuates Ankylosing Spondylitis in Mice by Inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 Pathway and Regulating Gut Microbiota. Immunol Invest 2023; 52:194-209. [PMID: 36548483 DOI: 10.1080/08820139.2022.2154162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an autoimmune disease associated with disturbed gut microbiota. Currently, the treatments and outcomes of AS are not satisfactory. It is reported that resveratrol (RES) is a major phytoalexin with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and some other pharmacological effects. However, there are no studies on the role of RES in AS. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effect and mechanism of RES on AS. Proteoglycan and complete freund's adjuvant were used to conduct an AS mouse model, and then the AS mice were gavaged with RES (20 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) daily for 4 weeks. Subsequently, the effect of RES on AS mice was assessed by detecting disease severity, inflammatory cytokines, NLRP3 inflammasome, TLR4/NF-κB pathway, intestinal mucosal barrier function, intestinal microbial barrier function. The assessment results indicated that RES could significantly relieve progression and severity of AS, inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, interleukin-17A, interferon-γ), and promote the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-4). RES intervention caused the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome and TLR4/NF-κB pathway. In terms of intestinal barrier function, experimental results found RES increased zonula occludens-1 and occludin expression, and additionally, changed the composition of the gut microbiota by increasing levels of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and reducing levels of Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli. Collectively, RES protects PG-induced AS mice by inhibiting inflammatory responses and TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway, restoring intestinal mucosal barrier function, and regulating the composition of the gut microbiota. In other words, RES is a potential candidate for the treatment of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Hui Ding
- The Seventh Department of Rheumatology, Xi'an No.5 Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Peng-Gang Xu
- The Seventh Department of Rheumatology, Xi'an No.5 Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Ying Wang
- The Eighth Department of Rheumatology, Xi'an No.5 Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Bao-di Ren
- The Seventh Department of Rheumatology, Xi'an No.5 Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Jun-Li Zhang
- The Seventh Department of Rheumatology, Xi'an No.5 Hospital, Xi'an, China
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Fatica M, D'Antonio A, Novelli L, Triggianese P, Conigliaro P, Greco E, Bergamini A, Perricone C, Chimenti MS. How Has Molecular Biology Enhanced Our Undertaking of axSpA and Its Management. Curr Rheumatol Rep 2023; 25:12-33. [PMID: 36308677 PMCID: PMC9825525 DOI: 10.1007/s11926-022-01092-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This review aims at investigating pathophysiological mechanisms in spondyloarthritis (SpA). Analysis of genetic factors, immunological pathways, and abnormalities of bone metabolism lay the foundations for a better understanding of development of the axial clinical manifestations in patients, allowing physician to choose the most appropriate therapeutic strategy in a more targeted manner. RECENT FINDINGS In addition to the contribution of MHC system, findings emerged about the role of non-HLA genes (as ERAP1 and 2, whose inhibition could represent a new therapeutic approach) and of epigenetic mechanisms that regulate the expression of genes involved in SpA pathogenesis. Increasing evidence of bone metabolism abnormalities secondary to the activation of immunological pathways suggests the development of various bone anomalies that are present in axSpA patients. SpA are a group of inflammatory diseases with a multifactorial origin, whose pathogenesis is linked to the genetic predisposition, the action of environmental risk factors, and the activation of immune response. It is now well known how bone metabolism leads to long-term structural damage via increased bone turnover, bone loss and osteoporosis, osteitis, erosions, osteosclerosis, and osteoproliferation. These effects can exist in the same patient over time or even simultaneously. Evidence suggests a cross relationship among innate immunity, autoimmunity, and bone remodeling in SpA, making treatment approach a challenge for rheumatologists. Specifically, treatment targets are consistently increasing as new drugs are upcoming. Both biological and targeted synthetic drugs are promising in terms of their efficacy and safety profile in patients affected by SpA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Fatica
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Arianna D'Antonio
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Novelli
- UniCamillus, Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Triggianese
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Conigliaro
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Greco
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Bergamini
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Perricone
- Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Maria Sole Chimenti
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
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Zhang M, Zhou J, Wang H, He L, Wang J, Yang X, Zhong X. Exploration of the shared pathways and common biomarker PAN3 in ankylosing spondylitis and ulcerative colitis using integrated bioinformatics analysis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1089622. [PMID: 36742304 PMCID: PMC9891726 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1089622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic autoimmune-related disease that causes inflammation of the intestine. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common extraintestinal complication of UC involving the sacroiliac joint. However, the pathogenesis of AS secondary to UC has not been studied. This study aimed to investigate the shared pathways and potential common biomarkers of UC and AS. Methods Microarray data downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the UC and AS datasets. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identify co-expression modules related to UC and AS. Shared genes were then further analyzed for functional pathway enrichment. Next, the optimal common biomarker was selected using SVM-RFF and further validated using two independent GEO datasets. Finally, immune infiltration analysis was used to investigate the correlation of immune cell infiltration with common biomarkers in UC and AS. Results A total of 4428 and 2438 DEGs in UC and AS, respectively, were screened. Four modules were identified as significant for UC and AS using WGCNA. A total of 25 genes overlapped with the strongest positive and negative modules of UC and AS. KEGG analysis showed these genes may be involved in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. GO analysis indicated that these genes were significantly enriched for RNA localization. PAN3 was selected as the optimal common biomarker for UC and AS. Immune infiltration analysis showed that the expression of PAN3 was correlated with changes in immune cells. Conclusion This study first explored the common pathways and genetic diagnostic markers involved in UC and AS using bioinformatic analysis. Results suggest that the MAPK signaling pathway may be associated with both pathogeneses and that PAN3 may be a potential diagnostic marker for patients with UC complicated by AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minna Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Huai'an No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China
| | - Junyi Zhou
- Department of Oncology, The Huai'an Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China
| | - Honggang Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Huai'an No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China.,Digestive Disease Center, The Affiliated Huai'an No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China
| | - Le He
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Huai'an No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingyi Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Huai'an No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaozhong Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Huai'an No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhong
- Department of Oncology, The Huai'an Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China
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Shesternya PA, Savchenko AA, Gritsenko OD, Vasileva AO, Kudryavtsev IV, Masterova AA, Isakov DV, Borisov AG. Features of Peripheral Blood Th-Cell Subset Composition and Serum Cytokine Level in Patients with Activity-Driven Ankylosing Spondylitis. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15111370. [PMID: 36355542 PMCID: PMC9695783 DOI: 10.3390/ph15111370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Th cells may exhibit pathological activity depending on the regulatory and functional signals sensed under a wide range of immunopathological conditions, including ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The relationship between Th cells and cytokines is important for diagnoses and for determining treatment. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Th-cell subset composition and serum cytokine profile for patients with activity-driven AS. In our study, patients were divided into two groups according to disease activity: low-activity AS (ASDAS-CRP < 2.1) and high-activity AS (ASDAS-CRP > 2.1). The peripheral blood Th cell subset composition was studied by flow cytometry. Using multiplex analysis, serum cytokine levels were quantified and investigated. It was found that only patients with high-activity AS had reduced central memory (CM) Th1 cells (p = 0.035) but elevated numbers of CM (p = 0.014) and effector memory (EM) Th2 cells (p < 0.001). However, no activity-driven change in the Th17 cell subset composition was observed in AS patients. Moreover, low-AS activity patients had increased numbers of Tfh17 EM cells (p < 0.001), whereas high-AS activity was associated with elevated Tfh2 EM level (p = 0.031). The serum cytokine profiles in AS patients demonstrated that cues stimulating cellular immunity were increased, but patients with high-AS activity reveled increased IL-5 level (p = 0.017). Analyzing the data obtained from AS patients allowed us to conclude that Th cell subset differentiation was mainly affected during the CM stage and characterized the IL-23/IL-17 regulatory axis, whereas increased humoral immunity was observed in the high-AS activity group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel A. Shesternya
- Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Ministry of Healthcare, 660022 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Correspondence:
| | - Andrei A. Savchenko
- Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Ministry of Healthcare, 660022 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center”, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Scientific Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, 660022 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Olga D. Gritsenko
- Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Ministry of Healthcare, 660022 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Alexandra O. Vasileva
- Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Ministry of Healthcare, 660022 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | | | - Alena A. Masterova
- Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center”, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Scientific Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, 660022 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Dmitry V. Isakov
- Academician I.P. Pavlov First St. Petersburg State Medical University, Ministry of Healthcare, 197022 St. Peterburg, Russia
| | - Alexandr G. Borisov
- Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center”, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Scientific Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, 660022 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
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Eucommia ulmoides Oliver's Multitarget Mechanism for Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Study Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:3699146. [PMID: 36267087 PMCID: PMC9578855 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3699146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Eucommia ulmoides Oliver (EU) is a plant used in Chinese medicine as a medicinal herb to treat autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. We used network pharmacology to examine the active ingredients and estimate the main targets and pathways affected by EU when it is used to treat ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Materials and Methods The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform was used to search for active ingredients in EU and their target proteins. The GeneCards Database was used to find AS-related targets. The targets from the EU and AS searches that coincided were selected by constructing a Venn diagram. Then, a STRING network platform and Cytoscape software were used to analyse the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and key targets. The strong affinity between EU and its targets was confirmed using molecular docking techniques. The Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of overlapping targets was performed using the database for annotation, visualization, and integrated discovery online tool. Results The number of active ingredients against AS in EU was discovered to be 28. Major targets against AS in the PPI network and core targets analyses were identified as IL-1B, PTGS2, IL-8, nMMP-9, CCL2, MYC, and IL-2. Furthermore, molecular docking studies showed the strong affinity between EU's bioactive molecules and their AS targets. Enrichment analysis revealed that active ingredients from EU were involved in a variety of biological processes, including the response to molecules derived from bacteria, extracellular stimuli, nutrient levels, and the regulation of reactive oxygen species, all of which are mediated by interleukin-17, TNF-α, and other signalling pathways. Conclusion The therapy for AS using EU involves a multitarget, multipathway, and multiselection mechanism that includes anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. This study provides a theoretical basis for future research into targeted molecular therapies for AS.
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Zhou C, Liang T, Jiang J, Zhang Z, Chen J, Chen T, Chen L, Sun X, Huang S, Zhu J, Wu S, Zhan X, Liu C. Immune cell infiltration-related clinical diagnostic model for Ankylosing Spondylitis. Front Genet 2022; 13:949882. [PMID: 36263434 PMCID: PMC9575679 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.949882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The pathogenesis and diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) has remained uncertain due to several reasons, including the lack of studies on the local and systemic immune response in AS. To construct a clinical diagnostic model, this study identified the micro RNA-messenger RNA (miRNA-mRNA) interaction network and immune cell infiltration-related hub genes associated with AS. Materials and Methods: Total RNA was extracted and purified from the interspinous ligament tissue samples of three patients with AS and three patients without AS; miRNA and mRNA microarrays were constructed using the extracted RNA. Bioinformatic tools were used to construct an miRNA-mRNA network, identify hub genes, and analyze immune infiltration associated with AS. Next, we collected the blood samples and clinical characteristics of 359 patients (197 with AS and 162 without AS). On the basis of the clinical characteristics and results of the routine blood tests, we selected immune-related cells whose numbers were significantly different in patients with AS and patients without AS. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to construct a nomogram. Immunohistochemistry staining analysis was utilized to verify the differentially expression of LYN in AS and controls. Results: A total of 225 differentially expressed miRNAs (DE miRNAs) and 406 differentially expressed mRNAs (DE mRNAs) were identified from the microarray. We selected 15 DE miRNAs and 38 DE mRNAs to construct a miRNA-mRNA network. The expression of LYN, an immune-related gene, correlated with the counts of monocytes, neutrophils, and dendritic cells. Based on the independent predictive factors of sex, age, and counts of monocytes, neutrophils, and white blood cells, a nomogram was established. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to evaluate the nomogram, with a C-index of 0.835 and AUC of 0.855. Conclusion:LYN, an immune-related hub gene, correlated with immune cell infiltration in patients with AS. In addition, the counts of monocytes and neutrophils were the independent diagnostic factors for AS. If verified in future studies, a diagnostic model based on these findings may be used to predict AS effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Xinli Zhan
- *Correspondence: Xinli Zhan, ; Chong Liu,
| | - Chong Liu
- *Correspondence: Xinli Zhan, ; Chong Liu,
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Optimal Biologic Drugs for the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis: Results from a Network Meta-Analysis and Network Metaregression. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:8316106. [PMID: 35845959 PMCID: PMC9279076 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8316106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Background Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common immune-related systemic chronic inflammatory osteoarthropathy. Previous studies have proven that biologic agents, including IL-17A inhibitors (IL17Ai), TNF-α inhibitor FC fusion protein (TNFiFCP), or fully human monoclonal antibody (TNFiNMA) and JAK inhibitor (JAKi), are effective for AS treatment. Our study is aimed at comparing the clinical efficacy, tolerability, and safety of different biological agents, including novel IL-6 inhibitor (IL6i), IL-23 inhibitor (IL23i), and IL-17 A/F dual variable domain inhibitor (IL17AFi) in AS. Method PubMed, Scopus, Embase, CNKI, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched. A frequentist framework network meta-analysis with a random-effects model was performed. Ranking effects were calculated by surface under the cumulative ranking analysis (SUCRA) and cluster-rank analysis. Results IL17AFi reported both the highest ASAS40 (SUCRA = 91.4%) and ASAS20 (SUCRA = 92.5%) response, while IL6i and IL23i reported the lowest responses (SUCRA = 6.6% and 19.9%, respectively). With the exceptions of IL6i (RR 0.60, 95% CI (0.22 to 1.67) for ASAS40 and 1.36 (0.71 to 2.58) for ASAS20) and IL23i (0.98 (0.68 to 1.40) for ASAS40 and 0.91 (0.70 to 1.19) for ASAS20), all biological drugs demonstrated statistically superior ASAS responses than placebo. TNFiFMA performed best in the suppression of disease activity (SUCRA = 77.4%, SMD 2.35, and 95% CI (1.11 to 3.59)) and functional improvement (SUCRA = 68.8%, SMD 1.67, and 95% CI (0.59 to 2.74)). There were no significant differences in tolerability or safety between biologic drugs and placebo. Conclusions The novel IL-17 A/F dual variable domain inhibitor, bimekizumab, may be an ideal future treatment choice for AS, while IL-23 and IL-6 inhibitors demonstrate little potential in the treatment of AS. For patients with rapid disease progression and severe functional limitation, TNF-α inhibitors, especially infliximab, are safe and effective and could be a first-line treatment choice.
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Hojjatipour T, Aslani S, Salimifard S, Mikaeili H, Hemmatzadeh M, Gholizadeh Navashenaq J, Ahangar Parvin E, Jadidi-Niaragh F, Mohammadi H. NK cells - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 107:108682. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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24
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Azadeh H, Alizadeh-Navaei R, Rezaiemanesh A, Rajabinejad M. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients treated with interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Inflammopharmacology 2022; 30:435-451. [PMID: 35188599 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-022-00933-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease characterized by immune system dysregulation and inflammation in the joints. Interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors are new biological drugs used to treat AS. In this study, we aimed to assess the risk of immune system-related AEs due to targeting IL-17 or IL-17R. METHODS The CENTRAL, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Clinical Trials Registry, and ICTRP were searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs until February 2021. The risk of irAEs in patients treated with IL-17 inhibitors compared to the placebo or a drug-free control was evaluated. In studies that reported AEs of the IL-17 inhibitors at several different time points, we compared the number of cases/100 patient-year in which irAEs were reported. Subgroup analyses were also performed based on the dose and type of drugs. RESULTS Thirteen studies of 1848 AS patients treated by IL-17 inhibitors (secukinumab, ixekizumab, bimekizumab, and netakimab) and 764 participants who received a placebo were included. The risk of some AEs related to immune function in patients under IL-17 inhibitors treatment was significantly higher than that of the placebo group, including infection and infestation (risk difference RD = 0.09, P = 0.02), nasopharyngitis (RD = 0.04, P < 0.001), opportunistic infections (RD = 0.01, P = 0.04), and neutropenia (RD = 0.04, P = 0.03). Besides, the results of the Cochran Q test showed that there were significant differences between the occurrence of some AEs over time, including infection and infestations (p < 0.001, RCTs), upper respiratory tract infections (p < 0.001, non-RCTs), urinary tract infections (p < 0.001, non-RCTs), and diarrhea (p < 0.01, RCTs). CONCLUSIONS The most common immune system-related AEs in patients treated with IL-17 inhibitors are mucosal and opportunistic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Azadeh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Reza Alizadeh-Navaei
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Alireza Rezaiemanesh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Misagh Rajabinejad
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, 18 km khazarabad, Sari, Iran.
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25
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Rezaiemanesh A, Mahmoudi M, Amirzargar AA, Vojdanian M, Babaie F, Mahdavi J, Rajabinejad M, Jamshidi AR, Nicknam MH. Upregulation of Unfolded Protein Response and ER Stress-Related IL-23 Production in M1 Macrophages from Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients. Inflammation 2022; 45:665-676. [PMID: 35112266 DOI: 10.1007/s10753-021-01575-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The inflammatory interleukin (IL)-23/IL-17 axis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), but with an unknown regulatory mechanism. This study aimed to investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagy pathway in the expression of IL-23 in peripheral blood-derived macrophages in AS patients. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 15 AS and 15 healthy control subjects. MACS was used to isolate monocytes from PBMCs. Then, M-CSF was used to differentiate monocytes to M2 macrophages. IFN-γ and/or LPS were used to activate macrophages and M2 polarization towards M1 macrophages. Thapsigargin was used to induce ER stress and 3-MA to inhibit autophagy. The purity of extracted monocytes and macrophage markers was evaluated by flow cytometry. mRNA expression of HLA-B and-B27, ER stress-related genes, autophagy-related genes, and IL-23p19 was performed using RT-qPCR. Soluble levels of IL-23p19 were measured using ELISA. Significant increase in mRNA expression of HLA-B, HLA-B27, BiP, XBP1, CHOP, and PERK mRNAs was observed in macrophages of AS patients before and after stimulation with IFN-γ and LPS. No significant change in autophagy gene expression was detected. mRNA and soluble levels of IL-23p19 demonstrated a significant increase in macrophages of AS patients compared to healthy subjects. ER stress induction led to a significant increase in IL-23p19 in macrophages. Inhibition of autophagy did not affect IL-23 expression. ER stress, unlike autophagy, is associated with increased IL-23 levels in macrophages of AS patients.Key Messages ER stress in macrophages from AS patients plays a role in the increased production of IL-23. The autophagy pathway is not involved in the modulation of IL-23 production by AS macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Rezaiemanesh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Mahdi Mahmoudi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Amirzargar
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Molecular Immunology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Vojdanian
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farhad Babaie
- Department of Immunology and Genetic, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Jila Mahdavi
- Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Misagh Rajabinejad
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Ahmad Reza Jamshidi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Nicknam
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Molecular Immunology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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26
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Liao HT, Tsai CY, Lai CC, Hsieh SC, Sun YS, Li KJ, Shen CY, Wu CH, Lu CH, Kuo YM, Li TH, Chou CT, Yu CL. The Potential Role of Genetics, Environmental Factors, and Gut Dysbiosis in the Aberrant Non-Coding RNA Expression to Mediate Inflammation and Osteoclastogenic/Osteogenic Differentiation in Ankylosing Spondylitis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:748063. [PMID: 35127698 PMCID: PMC8811359 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.748063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or radiographic axial spondyloarthritis is a chronic immune-mediated rheumatic disorder characterized by the inflammation in the axial skeleton, peripheral joints, and soft tissues (enthesis, fascia, and ligament). In addition, the extra-skeletal complications including anterior uveitis, interstitial lung diseases and aortitis are found. The pathogenesis of AS implicates an intricate interaction among HLA (HLA-B27) and non-HLA loci [endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1), and interleukin-23 receptor (IL23R), gut dysbiosis, immune plasticity, and numerous environmental factors (infections, heavy metals, stress, cigarette smoking, etc.) The latter multiple non-genetic factors may exert a powerful stress on epigenetic regulations. These epigenetic regulations of gene expression contain DNA methylation/demethylation, histone modifications and aberrant non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) expression, leading to inflammation and immune dysfunctions. In the present review, we shall discuss these contributory factors that are involved in AS pathogenesis, especially the aberrant ncRNA expression and its effects on the proinflammatory cytokine productions (TNF-α, IL-17 and IL-23), T cell skewing to Th1/Th17, and osteoclastogenic/osteogenic differentiation. Finally, some potential investigatory approaches are raised for solving the puzzles in AS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsien-Tzung Liao
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Youh Tsai
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: Chang-Youh Tsai, ; Chia-Li Yu,
| | - Chien-Chih Lai
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Song-Chou Hsieh
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Syuan Sun
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ko-Jen Li
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chieh-Yu Shen
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Han Wu
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Hsun Lu
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Min Kuo
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Hao Li
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taipei, Taiwan
- Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Tei Chou
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Li Yu
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: Chang-Youh Tsai, ; Chia-Li Yu,
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27
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Xu H, Yu H, Liu L, Wu H, Zhang C, Cai W, Hong X, Liu D, Tang D, Dai Y. Integrative Single-Cell RNA-Seq and ATAC-Seq Analysis of Peripheral Mononuclear Cells in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis. Front Immunol 2021; 12:760381. [PMID: 34880858 PMCID: PMC8647172 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.760381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Genetic studies on ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have identified more than 100 pathogenic genes. Building a bridge between these genes and biologically targeted therapies is the current research hotspot. Methods We integrated single-cell assaying transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (scATAC-seq) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to explore the key genes and related mechanisms associated with AS pathogenesis. Results We identified 18 cell types in peripheral mononuclear cells from patients with AS and normal controls and summarized the cell-type-specific abnormal genes by scRNA-seq. Interestingly, we found that the pathogenic gene NFKB involved in AS progression originated from CD8+ T cells. Moreover, we observed an abnormal tumor TNF pathway mediated by abnormal expression of TNF, NFKB, FOS, JUN, and JUNB, and scATAC-seq results confirmed the abnormal accessible binding sites of transcriptional factors FOS, JUN, and JUNB. The final magnetic bead sorting and quantitative real-time PCR(RT-qPCR) confirmed that NFKB, FOS, JUN, and JUNB in CD8+ T cells differed in the AS group. Conclusions Our results revealed a possible mechanism by which NFKB abnormally regulates FOS, JUN, and JUNB and drives AS progression, providing a novel perspective from a single cell point of view in AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huixuan Xu
- Clinical Medical Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease Precision Medicine, Shenzhen Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haiyan Yu
- Clinical Medical Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease Precision Medicine, Shenzhen Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lixiong Liu
- Clinical Medical Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease Precision Medicine, Shenzhen Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hongwei Wu
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cantong Zhang
- Clinical Medical Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease Precision Medicine, Shenzhen Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wanxia Cai
- Clinical Medical Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease Precision Medicine, Shenzhen Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoping Hong
- Clinical Medical Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease Precision Medicine, Shenzhen Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dongzhou Liu
- Clinical Medical Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease Precision Medicine, Shenzhen Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Donge Tang
- Clinical Medical Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease Precision Medicine, Shenzhen Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yong Dai
- Clinical Medical Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease Precision Medicine, Shenzhen Engineering Research Center of Autoimmune Disease, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases Research, Guilin Key Laboratory of Kidney, Diseases Research, 924st Hospital, Guilin, China
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28
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Du J, Sun J, Wen Z, Wu Z, Li Q, Xia Y, Yang Q, Yang C. Serum IL-6 and TNF-α Levels Are Correlated with Disease Severity in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis. Lab Med 2021; 53:149-155. [PMID: 34415341 DOI: 10.1093/labmed/lmab029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previous studies have shown that a number of cytokines participate in the regulation of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). To investigate the potential role of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α) in AS pathogenesis, this study examined the serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in patients with AS and its clinical association with disease activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS The serum concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α from 80 patients with AS and 46 healthy control patients (HCs) were examined by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The correlations between the serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), computed tomography (CT) imaging-based classification, and laboratory indicators were analyzed using the Spearman correlation test. RESULTS Compared to HCs, patients with AS showed higher levels of IL-6 and TNF-α. There was also a positive correlation between the serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels and the BASDAI, the progression of AS, and the CT imaging-based classification. The serum levels of IL-6 correlated closely with C-reactive protein and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. More important, patients with AS with hip joint involvement exhibited a significant elevation of serum levels of TNF-α, and higher IL-6 was detected in patients with the involvement of joints other than the hip and sacroiliac joints. CONCLUSION The serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α can function as important indicators for auxiliary diagnosis and disease activity evaluation of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Du
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Jinxia Sun
- Shenzhen GenTarGet Biotherapeutics Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Zhanpeng Wen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Zhicheng Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Qian Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Yuhao Xia
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Qiannan Yang
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, US
| | - Chao Yang
- Department of Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, P.R. China
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29
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Liu D, Liu B, Lin C, Gu J. Imbalance of Peripheral Lymphocyte Subsets in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Meta-Analysis. Front Immunol 2021; 12:696973. [PMID: 34295337 PMCID: PMC8291033 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.696973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis is a complicated consequence of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Enthesitis is believed to be the hallmark of ankylosing spondylitis, and the chronic inflammatory state of this disease is perpetuated by the disturbances of both the innate immune system and the acquired immune system. To clarify the alteration of immune system in patients with AS, we conducted a meta-analysis concerning the proportions of major lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of AS patients. We systematically searched PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) for articles related to this subject. A total of 95 articles involving 4,020 AS patients and 3,065 healthy controls were included in the analysis. This meta-analysis is performed on R platform using R package "meta", and Egger's tests were used to determine the presence of publication bias. Results showed that the percentages of T cells, NK cells and NKT cells were not significantly different between AS patients and healthy controls, but B cells were significantly increased. Among the subsets of T cells, the proportions of CD4+ T cells, Th17 cells, Tfh cells as well as Th1/Th2 ratio were significantly increased, while Tregs were significantly decreased. Subgroup analysis showed that the proportions of Th17 among both PBMCs, T cells and CD4+ T cells were significantly elevated, while Tregs were only significantly lower in PBMCs. Subgroup analysis also demonstrated that Tregs defined by "CD4+CD25+FoxP3+", "CD4+CD25+CD127low"or "CD4+CD25+CD127-"were significantly downregulated, indicating that the selection of markers could be critical. Further study is warranted in order to elucidate the complicated interactions between different lymphocyte subsets in AS patients. This study implied that the disequilibrium between Th17 and Tregs, as well as between Th1 and Th2 could contribute to the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis, further cementing the understanding that ankylosing spondylitis is a consequence of disrupted balance of innate immune system and acquired immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Liu
- Department of Rheumatology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Budian Liu
- Department of Rheumatology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Churong Lin
- Radiology Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jieruo Gu
- Department of Rheumatology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
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30
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Wang CM, Tan KP, Jan Wu YJ, Lin JC, Zheng JW, Yu AL, Wu JM, Chen JY. MICA*019 Allele and Soluble MICA as Biomarkers for Ankylosing Spondylitis in Taiwanese. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11060564. [PMID: 34208618 PMCID: PMC8235541 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11060564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
MICA (major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene A) interacts with NKG2D on immune cells to regulate host immune responses. We aimed to determine whether MICA alleles are associated with AS susceptibility in Taiwanese. MICA alleles were determined through haplotype analyses of major MICA coding SNP (cSNP) data from 895 AS patients and 896 normal healthy controls in Taiwan. The distributions of MICA alleles were compared between AS patients and normal healthy controls and among AS patients, stratified by clinical characteristics. ELISA was used to determine soluble MICA (sMICA) levels in serum of AS patients and healthy controls. Stable cell lines expressing four major MICA alleles (MICA*002, MICA*008, MICA*010 and MICA*019) in Taiwanese were used for biological analyses. We found that MICA*019 is the only major MICA allele significantly associated with AS susceptibility (PFDR = 2.25 × 10−115; OR, 14.90; 95% CI, 11.83–18.77) in Taiwanese. In addition, the MICA*019 allele is associated with syndesmophyte formation (PFDR = 0.0017; OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.29–2.22) and HLA-B27 positivity (PFDR = 1.45 × 10−33; OR, 28.79; 95% CI, 16.83–49.26) in AS patients. Serum sMICA levels were significantly increased in AS patients as compared to healthy controls. Additionally, MICA*019 homozygous subjects produced the highest levels of sMICA, compared to donors with other genotypes. Furthermore, in vitro experiments revealed that cells expressing MICA*019 produced the highest level of sMICA, as compared to other major MICA alleles. In summary, the MICA*019 allele, producing the highest levels of sMICA, is a significant risk factor for AS and syndesmophyte formation in Taiwanese. Our data indicate that a high level of sMICA is a biomarker for AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Man Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan;
| | - Keng-Poo Tan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (K.-P.T.); (Y-.J.J.W.); (J.-C.L.); (J.-W.Z.)
| | - Yeong-Jian Jan Wu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (K.-P.T.); (Y-.J.J.W.); (J.-C.L.); (J.-W.Z.)
| | - Jing-Chi Lin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (K.-P.T.); (Y-.J.J.W.); (J.-C.L.); (J.-W.Z.)
| | - Jian-Wen Zheng
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (K.-P.T.); (Y-.J.J.W.); (J.-C.L.); (J.-W.Z.)
| | - Alice L. Yu
- Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan 33375, Taiwan;
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, CA 92103, USA
| | - Jian-Ming Wu
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55108, USA;
| | - Ji-Yih Chen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (K.-P.T.); (Y-.J.J.W.); (J.-C.L.); (J.-W.Z.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-3-328-1200 (ext. 2410); Fax: 886-3-3288-287
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Ruiz-Limon P, Ladehesa-Pineda ML, Lopez-Medina C, Lopez-Pedrera C, Abalos-Aguilera MC, Barbarroja N, Arias-Quiros I, Perez-Sanchez C, Arias-de la Rosa I, Ortega-Castro R, Escudero-Contreras A, Collantes-Estevez E, Jimenez-Gomez Y. Potential Role and Impact of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis-Associated Endothelial Dysfunction. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11061037. [PMID: 34199950 PMCID: PMC8226914 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11061037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is well known as a process that can lead to atherosclerosis and is frequently presented in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) patients. Here, we investigated cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying r-axSpA-related ED, and analyzed the potential effect of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in promoting endothelial injury in r-axSpA. A total of 30 r-axSpA patients and 32 healthy donors (HDs) were evaluated. The endothelial function, inflammatory and atherogenic profile, and oxidative stress were quantified. In vitro studies were designed to evaluate the effect of PBMCs from r-axSpA patients on aberrant endothelial activation. Compared to HDs, our study found that, associated with ED and the plasma proatherogenic profile present in r-axSpA, PBMCs from these patients displayed a pro-oxidative, proinflammatory, and proatherogenic phenotype, with most molecular changes noticed in lymphocytes. Correlation studies revealed the relationship between this phenotype and the microvascular function. Additional in vitro studies confirmed that PBMCs from r-axSpA patients promoted endothelial injury. Altogether, this study suggests the relevance of r-axSpA itself as a strong and independent cardiovascular risk factor, contributing to a dysfunctional endothelium and atherogenic status by aberrant activation of PBMCs. Lymphocytes could be the main contributors in the development of ED and subsequent atherosclerosis in this pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Ruiz-Limon
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (M.L.L.-P.); (C.L.-M.); (C.L.-P.); (M.C.A.-A.); (N.B.); (I.A.-Q.); (C.P.-S.); (I.A.-d.l.R.); (R.O.-C.); (A.E.-C.); (E.C.-E.)
- UGC Rheumatology, Reina Sofia University Hospital, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Medicine (Medicine, Dermatology and Otorhinolaryngology), University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- UGC of Endocrinology and Nutrition, The Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga (IBIMA), Virgen de la Victoria Hospital, 29010 Málaga, Spain
- CIBER Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Carlos III Health Institute, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (P.R.-L.); (Y.J.-G.)
| | - Maria L. Ladehesa-Pineda
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (M.L.L.-P.); (C.L.-M.); (C.L.-P.); (M.C.A.-A.); (N.B.); (I.A.-Q.); (C.P.-S.); (I.A.-d.l.R.); (R.O.-C.); (A.E.-C.); (E.C.-E.)
- UGC Rheumatology, Reina Sofia University Hospital, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Medicine (Medicine, Dermatology and Otorhinolaryngology), University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Clementina Lopez-Medina
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (M.L.L.-P.); (C.L.-M.); (C.L.-P.); (M.C.A.-A.); (N.B.); (I.A.-Q.); (C.P.-S.); (I.A.-d.l.R.); (R.O.-C.); (A.E.-C.); (E.C.-E.)
- Department of Medicine (Medicine, Dermatology and Otorhinolaryngology), University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Chary Lopez-Pedrera
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (M.L.L.-P.); (C.L.-M.); (C.L.-P.); (M.C.A.-A.); (N.B.); (I.A.-Q.); (C.P.-S.); (I.A.-d.l.R.); (R.O.-C.); (A.E.-C.); (E.C.-E.)
- UGC Rheumatology, Reina Sofia University Hospital, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Medicine (Medicine, Dermatology and Otorhinolaryngology), University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Maria C. Abalos-Aguilera
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (M.L.L.-P.); (C.L.-M.); (C.L.-P.); (M.C.A.-A.); (N.B.); (I.A.-Q.); (C.P.-S.); (I.A.-d.l.R.); (R.O.-C.); (A.E.-C.); (E.C.-E.)
- UGC Rheumatology, Reina Sofia University Hospital, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Medicine (Medicine, Dermatology and Otorhinolaryngology), University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Nuria Barbarroja
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (M.L.L.-P.); (C.L.-M.); (C.L.-P.); (M.C.A.-A.); (N.B.); (I.A.-Q.); (C.P.-S.); (I.A.-d.l.R.); (R.O.-C.); (A.E.-C.); (E.C.-E.)
- UGC Rheumatology, Reina Sofia University Hospital, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Medicine (Medicine, Dermatology and Otorhinolaryngology), University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Isabel Arias-Quiros
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (M.L.L.-P.); (C.L.-M.); (C.L.-P.); (M.C.A.-A.); (N.B.); (I.A.-Q.); (C.P.-S.); (I.A.-d.l.R.); (R.O.-C.); (A.E.-C.); (E.C.-E.)
- UGC Rheumatology, Reina Sofia University Hospital, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Medicine (Medicine, Dermatology and Otorhinolaryngology), University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Carlos Perez-Sanchez
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (M.L.L.-P.); (C.L.-M.); (C.L.-P.); (M.C.A.-A.); (N.B.); (I.A.-Q.); (C.P.-S.); (I.A.-d.l.R.); (R.O.-C.); (A.E.-C.); (E.C.-E.)
- UGC Rheumatology, Reina Sofia University Hospital, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Medicine (Medicine, Dermatology and Otorhinolaryngology), University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Ivan Arias-de la Rosa
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (M.L.L.-P.); (C.L.-M.); (C.L.-P.); (M.C.A.-A.); (N.B.); (I.A.-Q.); (C.P.-S.); (I.A.-d.l.R.); (R.O.-C.); (A.E.-C.); (E.C.-E.)
- UGC Rheumatology, Reina Sofia University Hospital, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Medicine (Medicine, Dermatology and Otorhinolaryngology), University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Rafaela Ortega-Castro
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (M.L.L.-P.); (C.L.-M.); (C.L.-P.); (M.C.A.-A.); (N.B.); (I.A.-Q.); (C.P.-S.); (I.A.-d.l.R.); (R.O.-C.); (A.E.-C.); (E.C.-E.)
- UGC Rheumatology, Reina Sofia University Hospital, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Medicine (Medicine, Dermatology and Otorhinolaryngology), University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Alejandro Escudero-Contreras
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (M.L.L.-P.); (C.L.-M.); (C.L.-P.); (M.C.A.-A.); (N.B.); (I.A.-Q.); (C.P.-S.); (I.A.-d.l.R.); (R.O.-C.); (A.E.-C.); (E.C.-E.)
- UGC Rheumatology, Reina Sofia University Hospital, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Medicine (Medicine, Dermatology and Otorhinolaryngology), University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Eduardo Collantes-Estevez
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (M.L.L.-P.); (C.L.-M.); (C.L.-P.); (M.C.A.-A.); (N.B.); (I.A.-Q.); (C.P.-S.); (I.A.-d.l.R.); (R.O.-C.); (A.E.-C.); (E.C.-E.)
- UGC Rheumatology, Reina Sofia University Hospital, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Medicine (Medicine, Dermatology and Otorhinolaryngology), University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Yolanda Jimenez-Gomez
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (M.L.L.-P.); (C.L.-M.); (C.L.-P.); (M.C.A.-A.); (N.B.); (I.A.-Q.); (C.P.-S.); (I.A.-d.l.R.); (R.O.-C.); (A.E.-C.); (E.C.-E.)
- UGC Rheumatology, Reina Sofia University Hospital, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Medicine (Medicine, Dermatology and Otorhinolaryngology), University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Correspondence: (P.R.-L.); (Y.J.-G.)
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Qin H, Wu T, Liu J, Wang G, Fan L, Wang B, Shen Y. MALT-1 inhibition attenuates the inflammatory response of ankylosing spondylitis by targeting NF-κB activation. Injury 2021; 52:1287-1293. [PMID: 33827774 DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2021.03.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study aimed to investigate the effects of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation protein (MALT)-1 on ankylosing spondylitis and its underlying mechanisms. METHODS Proteoglycan induced ankylosing spondylitis (PGIA) mouse model was established and the expression patterns of MALT-1 were determined in joint tissue. Next, the mice were intraarticularly administrated with MALT-1 in the PGIA mouse model. Meanwhile, shRNA was intraarticularly administrated to PGIA mice. The incidence of arthritis and clinical score was evaluated. Besides, the levels of inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were measured. Protein expressions of full-length CYLD (FL-CYLD), C-terminal cleavage fragment (CYLD-CL), and nuclear factor (NF)-κB were determined. RESULTS The mRNA and protein levels of MALT1 were increased in the PGIA mouse model. The treatment of MALT-1 accelerated arthritis incidence and joint damage, whereas shMALT-1 suppressed arthritis symptoms in the PGIA mouse model. In addition, treatment of shMALT-1 suppressed the levels of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β), MMP-3, and MMP-9. Furthermore, the treatment of shMALT-1 suppressed the levels of CYLD and NF-κB in the joint tissues in the PGIA mouse model. CONCLUSION The inhibition of MALT-1 suppressed the inflammatory response in ankylosing spondylitis in part by the regulation of CYLD and NF-κB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Qin
- Department of Orthopedics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 121 Jiangjiayuan, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tao Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 121 Jiangjiayuan, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 121 Jiangjiayuan, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 121 Jiangjiayuan, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Fan
- Department of Orthopedics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 121 Jiangjiayuan, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu, China
| | - Boyao Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 121 Jiangjiayuan, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yajun Shen
- Department of Orthopedics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 121 Jiangjiayuan, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu, China
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Zhang D, Li B, Guo R, Wu J, Yang C, Jiang X, Zhang C, Yan H, Zhao Q, Wang Z, Wang Q, Huang R, Zhang Z, Hu X, Gao L. RAB5C, SYNJ1, and RNF19B promote male ankylosing spondylitis by regulating immune cell infiltration. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:1011. [PMID: 34277811 PMCID: PMC8267299 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-2721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background This study aimed to identify the key genes related to male ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to analyze the role of immune cell infiltration in the pathological process of this disease. Methods The AS dataset was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) public database, and the data of male healthy controls (M_HC) and male AS patients (M_AS) were extracted. R software was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional and pathway enrichment analysis of the DEGs was performed. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and the hub genes were screened out. All expression profile data were analyzed by weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) to screen out the hub genes, which were then intersected with the hub genes from the PPI network to obtain the key genes. Finally, the difference in immune cell infiltration in the two sets of samples was evaluated with CIBERSORT, and the correlation between the key genes and infiltrating immune cells was analyzed. Results A total of 689 DEGs were obtained, of which 395 genes were up-regulated and 294 genes were down-regulated. Functional and pathway enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in pathways related to immune response. Based on the PPI analysis, five clusters with high scores were selected. Through WGCNA, 14 gene modules were obtained. The green module with the highest correlation was selected and intersected with the cluster previously obtained to obtain three key genes, RAB5C, SYNJ1, and RNF19B. Immune infiltration analysis found that monocytes and gamma delta T cells may be involved in the process of AS. Also, RAB5C, SYNJ1, and RNF19B are all related to increased levels of monocytes and macrophages. Conclusions RAB5C, SYNJ1, and RNF19B are key DEGs expressed in M_AS and may play a role in the disease’s occurrence and development through regulating immune cell functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Orthopedics, The Eighth Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Guo
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jionglin Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Canchun Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xu Jiang
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haolin Yan
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiancheng Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zheyu Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiwei Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Renyuan Huang
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhilei Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xumin Hu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liangbin Gao
- Department of Orthopedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Devaprasad A, Radstake TRDJ, Pandit A. Integration of Immunome With Disease-Gene Network Reveals Common Cellular Mechanisms Between IMIDs and Drug Repurposing Strategies. Front Immunol 2021; 12:669400. [PMID: 34108969 PMCID: PMC8181425 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.669400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Development and progression of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) involve intricate dysregulation of the disease-associated genes (DAGs) and their expressing immune cells. Identifying the crucial disease-associated cells (DACs) in IMIDs has been challenging due to the underlying complex molecular mechanism. Methods Using transcriptome profiles of 40 different immune cells, unsupervised machine learning, and disease-gene networks, we constructed the Disease-gene IMmune cell Expression (DIME) network and identified top DACs and DAGs of 12 phenotypically different IMIDs. We compared the DIME networks of IMIDs to identify common pathways between them. We used the common pathways and publicly available drug-gene network to identify promising drug repurposing targets. Results We found CD4+Treg, CD4+Th1, and NK cells as top DACs in inflammatory arthritis such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA); neutrophils, granulocytes, and BDCA1+CD14+ cells in systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic scleroderma; ILC2, CD4+Th1, CD4+Treg, and NK cells in the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). We identified lymphoid cells (CD4+Th1, CD4+Treg, and NK) and their associated pathways to be important in HLA-B27 type diseases (psoriasis, AS, and IBDs) and in primary-joint-inflammation-based inflammatory arthritis (AS and RA). Based on the common cellular mechanisms, we identified lifitegrast as a potential drug repurposing candidate for Crohn's disease and other IMIDs. Conclusions Existing methods are inadequate in capturing the intricate involvement of the crucial genes and cell types essential to IMIDs. Our approach identified the key DACs, DAGs, common mechanisms between IMIDs, and proposed potential drug repurposing targets using the DIME network. To extend our method to other diseases, we built the DIME tool (https://bitbucket.org/systemsimmunology/dime/) to help scientists uncover the etiology of complex and rare diseases to further drug development by better-determining drug targets, thereby mitigating the risk of failure in late clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinandan Devaprasad
- Division Internal Medicine and Dermatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Timothy R. D. J. Radstake
- Division Internal Medicine and Dermatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Aridaman Pandit
- Division Internal Medicine and Dermatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Qaiyum Z, Lim M, Inman RD. The gut-joint axis in spondyloarthritis: immunological, microbial, and clinical insights. Semin Immunopathol 2021; 43:173-192. [PMID: 33625549 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-021-00845-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The strong genetic and clinical overlaps between spondyloarthritis (SpA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have placed much needed focus on the gut-joint axis of inflammation in SpA, leading to three key hypotheses that attempt to unravel this complex relationship. The arthritogenic peptide hypothesis and the aberrant cellular trafficking hypothesis have been put forth to rationalize the manner by which the innate and adaptive immune systems cooperate and converge during SpA pathogenesis. The bacterial dysbiosis hypothesis discusses how changes in the microbiome lead to architectural and immunological consequences in SpA. These theories are not mutually exclusive, but can provide an explanation as to why subclinical gut inflammation may sometimes precede joint inflammation in SpA patients, thereby implying a causal relationship. Such investigations will be important in informing therapeutic decisions which may be common to both SpA and IBD. However, these hypotheses can also offer insights for a coincident inflammatory relationship between the gut and the joint, particularly when assessing the immunological players involved. Insights from understanding how these systems might affect the gut and joint differently will be equally imperative to address where the therapeutic differences lie between the two diseases. Collectively, this knowledge has practical implications in predicting the likelihood of IBD development in SpA or presence of coincident SpA-IBD, uncovering novel therapeutic targets, and redesigning currently approved treatments. It is evident that a multidisciplinary approach between the rheumatology and gastroenterology fields cannot be ignored, when it comes to the care of SpA patients at risk of IBD or vice versa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoya Qaiyum
- Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Avenue, 5, Toronto, Ontario, KD-408, Canada
| | - Melissa Lim
- Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Avenue, 5, Toronto, Ontario, KD-408, Canada
| | - Robert D Inman
- Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Avenue, 5, Toronto, Ontario, KD-408, Canada.
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Kuca-Warnawin E, Janicka I, Bonek K, Kontny E. Modulatory Impact of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells of Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients on T Helper Cell Differentiation. Cells 2021; 10:cells10020280. [PMID: 33573252 PMCID: PMC7912699 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The domination of pro-inflammatory Th subsets (Th1, Th17) is characteristic of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) were reported to normalize Th imbalance, but whether MSCs from AS adipose tissue (AS/ASCs) possess such properties is unknown. We examined AS/ASCs' impact on Th-cell differentiation, using healthy donors ASCs (HD/ASCs) as a control. The assessment of the expression of transcription factors defining Th1 (T-bet), Th2 (GATA3), Th17 (RORc), and Treg (FoxP3) subsets by quantitative RT-PCR, the concentrations of subset-specific cytokines by ELISA, and Treg (CD4+CD25highFoxP3+) formation by flow cytometry, were performed in the co-cultures of ASCs with activated CD4+ T cells or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). AS/ASCs and HD/ASCs exerted similar immunomodulatory effects. Acting directly on CD4+ T cells, ASCs decreased the T-bet/GATA3 and RORc/FoxP3 ratios, diminished Treg formation, but increase IFNγ and IL-17AF production, while ASCs co-cultured with PBMCs enhanced Treg generation and reduced IFNγ release. ASCs failed to up-regulate the anti-inflammatory IL-10 and TGFβ. AS/ASCs' impact on allogeneic and autologous PBMCs was similar. In conclusion, to shift Th differentiation to a functional anti-inflammatory direction, ASCs require accessory cell support, whereas their direct effect may be pro-inflammatory. Because ASCs neither inhibit IL-17AF nor up-regulate anti-inflammatory cytokines, their usefulness for AS patients' treatment remains uncertain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Kuca-Warnawin
- Department of Pathophysiology and Immunology, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology, and Rehabilitation, 02-637 Warsaw, Poland; (I.J.); (E.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-22-6-709-260
| | - Iwona Janicka
- Department of Pathophysiology and Immunology, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology, and Rehabilitation, 02-637 Warsaw, Poland; (I.J.); (E.K.)
| | - Krzysztof Bonek
- Department of Rheumatology, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology, and Rehabilitation, 02-637 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Ewa Kontny
- Department of Pathophysiology and Immunology, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology, and Rehabilitation, 02-637 Warsaw, Poland; (I.J.); (E.K.)
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Gene-regulatory network analysis of ankylosing spondylitis with a single-cell chromatin accessible assay. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19411. [PMID: 33173081 PMCID: PMC7655814 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76574-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A detailed understanding of the gene-regulatory network in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is vital for elucidating the mechanisms of AS pathogenesis. Assaying transposase-accessible chromatin in single cell sequencing (scATAC-seq) is a suitable method for revealing such networks. Thus, scATAC-seq was applied to define the landscape of active regulatory DNA in AS. As a result, there was a significant change in the percent of CD8+ T cells in PBMCs, and 37 differentially accessible transcription factor (TF) motifs were identified. T cells, monocytes-1 and dendritic cells were found to be crucial for the IL-17 signaling pathway and TNF signaling pathway, since they had 73 potential target genes regulated by 8 TF motifs with decreased accessibility in AS. Moreover, natural killer cells were involved in AS by increasing the accessibility to TF motifs TEAD1 and JUN to induce cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions. In addition, CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells may be vital for altering host immune functions through increasing the accessibility of TF motifs NR1H4 and OLIG (OLIGI and OLIG2), respectively. These results explain clear gene regulatory variation in PBMCs from AS patients, providing a foundational framework for the study of personal regulomes and delivering insights into epigenetic therapy.
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Aghaei H, Farhadi E, Akhtari M, Shahba S, Mostafaei S, Jamshidi A, Poursani S, Mahmoudi M, Nicknam MH. Copy number variation of IL17RA gene and its association with the ankylosing spondylitis risk in Iranian patients: a case-control study. BMC MEDICAL GENETICS 2020; 21:147. [PMID: 32650733 PMCID: PMC7350761 DOI: 10.1186/s12881-020-01078-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Background Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is considered as a subtype of spondyloarthritis (SpA) that mainly leads to fatigue, stiffness, spinal ankylosis, and impaired physical functions with reduced quality of life. Interleukin (IL)-17A provokes additional inflammatory mediators and recruits immune cells to the inflamed site. IL17 expression increased in various inflammatory disorders including psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, crohn’s disease, and ankylosing spondylitis. The current study aimed to evaluate the association of IL17RA copy number changes with the susceptibility to AS and their correlation to IL17RA expression in Iranian population. Methods IL17RA copy number genotyping assessments were carried out in 455 AS patients and 450 healthy controls, using custom TaqMan CNV assays. TaqMan primers and probe were located in Chr.22:17109553 based on pre-designed IL17RA Copy Number Assay ID, Hs02339506_cn. mRNA expression of IL17RA was also measured by SYBR Green real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results A IL17RA copy number loss (< 2) was associated with AS compared to 2 copies as reference (OR:2.18, 95% CI: (1.38–3.44), P-value < 0.001) and increased the risk of AS. IL17RA mRNA expression showed a significant increase in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of all AS individuals than controls. The mRNA expression level of 2 copies was significantly higher in AS patients. Conclusions Our findings revealed that a low copy number of IL17RA might confer a susceptibility risk to AS. However, it is probably not directly involved in the regulation of IL17RA mRNA expression. Epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation, post-transcriptional, and -translational modifications that regulate the expression of the genes may contribute in upregulation of IL17RA mRNA expression in the loss of gene copy number condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamideh Aghaei
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elham Farhadi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Inflammation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Akhtari
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Shahba
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shayan Mostafaei
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Ahmadreza Jamshidi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shiva Poursani
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Mahmoudi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Inflammation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Hossein Nicknam
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Molecular Immunology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Ruiz-Limon P, Ladehesa-Pineda ML, Castro-Villegas MDC, Abalos-Aguilera MDC, Lopez-Medina C, Lopez-Pedrera C, Barbarroja N, Espejo-Peralbo D, Gonzalez-Reyes JA, Villalba JM, Perez-Sanchez C, Escudero-Contreras A, Collantes-Estevez E, Font-Ugalde P, Jimenez-Gomez Y. Enhanced NETosis generation in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: utility as biomarker for disease activity and anti-TNF-α therapy effectiveness. J Biomed Sci 2020; 27:54. [PMID: 32303225 PMCID: PMC7164280 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-020-00634-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory form of arthritis in which tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, a potent inducer of inflammatory response and a key regulator of innate immunity and of Th1 immune responses, plays a central role. NETosis is a mechanism of innate immune defense that is involved in diverse rheumatology diseases. Nevertheless, spontaneous NETosis generation in r-axSpA, its association to disease pathogenesis, and the NETosis involvement on anti-TNF-α therapy’s effects has never been explored. Methods Thirty r-axSpA patients and 32 healthy donors (HDs) were evaluated. Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, mediators of signal-transduction cascade required for NETosis induction and cell-free NETosis-derived products were quantified. An additional cohort of 15 r-axSpA patients treated with infliximab (IFX) for six months were further analyzed. In vitro studies were designed to assess the effects of IFX in NETosis generation and the inflammatory profile triggered. Results Compared to HDs, neutrophils from r-axSpA patients displayed augmented spontaneous NET formation, elevated expression of NET-associated signaling components, nuclear peptidylarginine deiminase 4 translocation and increased citrullinated histone H3. Furthermore, patients exhibited altered circulating levels of cell-free NETosis-derived products (DNA, nucleosomes and elastase). Additional studies revealed that cell-free NETosis-derived products could be suitable biomarkers for distinguish r-axSpA patients from HDs. Correlation studies showed association between cell-free NETosis-derived products and clinical inflammatory parameters. Besides, nucleosomes displayed potential as a biomarker for discriminate patients according to disease activity. IFX therapy promoted a reduction in both NETosis generation and disease activity in r-axSpA patients. Mechanistic in vitro studies further unveiled the relevance of IFX in reducing NET release and normalizing the augmented inflammatory activities promoted by NETs in mononuclear cells. Conclusions This study reveals that NETosis is enhanced in r-axSpA patients and identifies the NETosis-derived products as potential disease activity biomarkers. In addition, the data suggests the potential role of NET generation analysis for assessment of therapeutic effectiveness in r-axSpA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Ruiz-Limon
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain. .,Unidad de Gestión Clínica Reumatología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain. .,Departamento de Medicina (Medicina, Dermatología y Otorrinolaringología), Universidad de Córdoba, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain. .,Unidad de Gestión Clínica Endocrinología y Nutrición, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Clínico Virgen de la Victoria, Campus Teatinos s/n, 29010, Málaga, Spain.
| | - Maria Lourdes Ladehesa-Pineda
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Unidad de Gestión Clínica Reumatología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Departamento de Medicina (Medicina, Dermatología y Otorrinolaringología), Universidad de Córdoba, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Maria Del Carmen Castro-Villegas
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Unidad de Gestión Clínica Reumatología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Departamento de Medicina (Medicina, Dermatología y Otorrinolaringología), Universidad de Córdoba, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Maria Del Carmen Abalos-Aguilera
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Unidad de Gestión Clínica Reumatología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Departamento de Medicina (Medicina, Dermatología y Otorrinolaringología), Universidad de Córdoba, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Clementina Lopez-Medina
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Departamento de Medicina (Medicina, Dermatología y Otorrinolaringología), Universidad de Córdoba, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Chary Lopez-Pedrera
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Unidad de Gestión Clínica Reumatología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Departamento de Medicina (Medicina, Dermatología y Otorrinolaringología), Universidad de Córdoba, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Nuria Barbarroja
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Unidad de Gestión Clínica Reumatología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Departamento de Medicina (Medicina, Dermatología y Otorrinolaringología), Universidad de Córdoba, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Daniel Espejo-Peralbo
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Unidad de Gestión Clínica Reumatología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Departamento de Medicina (Medicina, Dermatología y Otorrinolaringología), Universidad de Córdoba, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Jose Antonio Gonzalez-Reyes
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Fisiología e Inmunología, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario ceiA3, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio Severo Ochoa, 3ª planta, 14014, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Jose Manuel Villalba
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Fisiología e Inmunología, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario ceiA3, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio Severo Ochoa, 3ª planta, 14014, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Carlos Perez-Sanchez
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Unidad de Gestión Clínica Reumatología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Departamento de Medicina (Medicina, Dermatología y Otorrinolaringología), Universidad de Córdoba, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Alejandro Escudero-Contreras
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Unidad de Gestión Clínica Reumatología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Departamento de Medicina (Medicina, Dermatología y Otorrinolaringología), Universidad de Córdoba, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Eduardo Collantes-Estevez
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Unidad de Gestión Clínica Reumatología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Departamento de Medicina (Medicina, Dermatología y Otorrinolaringología), Universidad de Córdoba, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Pilar Font-Ugalde
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Unidad de Gestión Clínica Reumatología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.,Departamento de Medicina (Medicina, Dermatología y Otorrinolaringología), Universidad de Córdoba, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Yolanda Jimenez-Gomez
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain. .,Unidad de Gestión Clínica Reumatología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain. .,Departamento de Medicina (Medicina, Dermatología y Otorrinolaringología), Universidad de Córdoba, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain.
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van der Heijde D, Gensler LS, Deodhar A, Baraliakos X, Poddubnyy D, Kivitz A, Farmer MK, Baeten D, Goldammer N, Coarse J, Oortgiesen M, Dougados M. Dual neutralisation of interleukin-17A and interleukin-17F with bimekizumab in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis: results from a 48-week phase IIb, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study. Ann Rheum Dis 2020; 79:595-604. [PMID: 32253184 PMCID: PMC7213320 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-216980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Bimekizumab selectively neutralises both interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F. We report efficacy and safety in a phase IIb dose-ranging study in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS Adults with AS (fulfilling modified New York criteria) were randomised 1:1:1:1:1 to bimekizumab 16 mg, 64 mg, 160 mg, 320 mg or placebo every 4 weeks for 12 weeks (double-blind period). At week 12, patients receiving bimekizumab 16 mg, 64 mg or placebo were re-randomised 1:1 to bimekizumab 160 mg or 320 mg every 4 weeks to week 48; other patients continued on their initial dose (dose-blind period). The primary end point was Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) 40 response at week 12 (non-responder imputation (NRI) for missing data). RESULTS 303 patients were randomised: bimekizumab 16 mg (n=61), 64 mg (n=61), 160 mg (n=60), 320 mg (n=61) or placebo (n=60). At week 12, significantly more bimekizumab-treated patients achieved ASAS40 vs placebo (NRI: 29.5%-46.7% vs 13.3%; p<0.05 all comparisons; OR vs placebo 2.6-5.5 (95% CI 1.0 to 12.9)). A significant dose-response was observed (p<0.001). The primary end point was supported by all secondary efficacy outcomes. At week 48, 58.6% and 62.3% of patients receiving bimekizumab 160 and 320 mg throughout the study achieved ASAS40, respectively (NRI); similar ASAS40 response rates were observed in re-randomised patients. During the double-blind period, treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 26/60 (43.3%) patients receiving placebo and 92/243 (37.9%) receiving bimekizumab. CONCLUSIONS Bimekizumab provided rapid and sustained improvements in key outcome measures in patients with active AS, with no unexpected safety findings versus previous studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02963506.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lianne S Gensler
- University California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Atul Deodhar
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Denis Poddubnyy
- Department of Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases and Rheumatology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Epidemiology Unit, German Rheumatism Research Centre, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alan Kivitz
- Altoona Center for Clinical Research, Duncansville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Dominique Baeten
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, UCB Pharma, Slough, UK
| | | | | | | | - Maxime Dougados
- Department of Rheumatology, Université de Paris, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.,INSERM (U1153): Epidémiologie Clinique et Biostatistiques, PRES Sorbonne Paris-Cité, Paris, France
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Akhtari M, Vojdanian M, Javinani A, Ashraf-Ganjouei A, Jamshidi A, Mahmoudi M. Activation of adenosine A 2A receptor induced interleukin-23 mRNA expression in macrophages of ankylosing spondylitis patients. Cytokine 2020; 128:154997. [PMID: 31978612 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2020.154997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an auto-inflammatory debilitating disorder with a complex pathogenesis. The adenosinergic pathway is an immunologic regulating pathway with a potential role in AS pathophysiology. In the present study, we have aimed to investigate the influence of A2A adenosine receptor (A2AAR) activation on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-23 (IL-23) expression and secretion by monocyte-generated macrophages of AS patients. METHODS Whole-blood separated monocytes were extracted from 14 AS patients and 14 healthy controls. Macrophages were differentiated by macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), and surface markers were confirmed by flow cytometer. Cells were treated with CGS-21680 as a known agonist of A2AAR. Analysis of ADORA2A, TNFA, and IL23A gene expression was performed by SYBR green real-time PCR. The concentration of secreted cytokines was also measured by ELISA kits. RESULTS Based on our analysis, CGS-21680 significantly decreased TNF-α secretion by monocyte-derived macrophages of AS patients. Moreover, A2AAR agonist increased the IL23A mRNA expression level in monocyte-derived macrophages of AS patients considerably. Whereas, CGS-21680 did not have any influence on macrophages of healthy individuals. CONCLUSION According to our results, it appears that A2AAR activation can increase IL-23 secretion by monocyte-derived macrophages of AS patients. Although the TNF-α reducing effect of A2AAR agonists can be a potential target in AS treatment, robust increasing of IL-23 should be considered as the undesirable effect of these agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Akhtari
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Vojdanian
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Javinani
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Ashraf-Ganjouei
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmadreza Jamshidi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Mahmoudi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Inflammation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Li T, Zhou L, Zhao H, Song J, Wang X, Liu S, Xu H. Fatigue in Ankylosing Spondylitis Is Associated With Psychological Factors and Brain Gray Matter. Front Med (Lausanne) 2019; 6:271. [PMID: 31824954 PMCID: PMC6882166 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2019.00271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a rheumatic inflammatory disease with unknown etiology, and fatigue is one of the main systemic symptoms of AS. The aim of the current study was to explore the mechanism of AS-associated fatigue (ASF) from multiple aspects, including neuropsychological changes. Method: A total of 120 AS patients and 78 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were recruited into the study. Fatigue was assessed by the fatigue item of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) scale. Anxiety and depression were assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The cortical thickness and subcortical gray matter volume were assessed using a Philips Achieva 3.0 T TX MRI scanner. Result: Of the 120 AS patients, 103 (85.8%) reported varying degrees of fatigue. Among these fatigue cases, 33 (32.0%) were in the severe fatigue group (BASDAI-Fatigue ≥ 5), and 70 patients (68.0%) were considered to be in the mild fatigue group (BASDAI-Fatigue > 0 but <5). The BASDAI, ASDAS-CRP, HAD-A, and HAD-D scores of AS patients in the severe fatigue group were all significantly higher than those of patients in the mild fatigue and non-fatigue groups (all, P < 0.05). The structural equation model suggested that AS activity triggered the occurrence of fatigue by inducing psychological change. Finally, head MRI imaging found that the left thalamus volume in AS patients with severe fatigue was significantly larger than that in non-fatigue AS patients and healthy controls (both, P < 0.05). Conclusion: The study revealed neuropsychological factors involved in fatigue in AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling Zhou
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongbo Zhao
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Song
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiuwen Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shiyuan Liu
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huji Xu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.,Beijing Tsinghua Chang Gung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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Babaie F, Mohammadi H, Hemmatzadeh M, Ebrazeh M, Torkamandi S, Yousefi M, Hajaliloo M, Rezaiemanesh A, Salimi S, Salimi R, Safarzadeh E, Baradaran B, Babaloo Z. Evaluation of ERAP1 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms in immunomodulation of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines profile in ankylosing spondylitis. Immunol Lett 2019; 217:31-38. [PMID: 31711818 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2019.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a prototype of chronic inflammatory arthritis termed seronegative spondyloarthropathies that typically affects the joints. Among the non-Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loci, the strongest association has been observed with Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Moreover, the effect of ERAP1 gene SNPs on the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in AS disease has still been poorly elucidated. In this study, we aimed to determine the association of ERAP1 gene SNPs (rs30187 and rs2287987) with AS risk as well as their effect on the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, with emphasis on the immunoregulation of the IL-17/IL-23 pathway, in an Iranian population. METHODS We performed Single specific primer (SSP)-PCR for genotyping of 160 AS patients and 160 healthy controls. After isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), total RNA of PBMCs was isolated, complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized, and quantitative analyses of mRNA expression of cytokines were performed by Real-time PCR for 40 HLA-B27 positive AS patients and 40 healthy individuals as controls. RESULTS It was seen that T allele of rs30187 (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.07-2.22, P = 0.017) and C allele of rs2287987 (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.05-2.14, P = 0.024) were associated with the risk of AS. Both of these alleles were associated more strongly in the HLA-B27 positive AS patients. There was a significant overexpression of mRNAs of pro-inflammatory (IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-23, TNF-α and IFN-γ), while downregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-β) in PBMCs from 40 HLA-B27 positive AS patients in comparison to controls. AS patients with rs30187 SNP TT genotype expressed mRNA of IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-23 significantly higher than patents with CT and CC genotypes for this SNP. CONCLUSIONS This study represented the association of ERAP1 gene rs30187 and rs2287987 polymorphism with the risk of AS. Additionally, it appears that rs30187 polymorphism may be involved in the immunomodulation of the IL-17/IL-23 pathway in the AS disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhad Babaie
- Department of Immunology and Genetic, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hamed Mohammadi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Maryam Hemmatzadeh
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Ebrazeh
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Shahram Torkamandi
- Department of Immunology and Genetic, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Mehdi Yousefi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mehrzad Hajaliloo
- Connective Tissue Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Alireza Rezaiemanesh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Sorayya Salimi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Reza Salimi
- Human Molecular Genetics, De Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Elham Safarzadeh
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Zohreh Babaloo
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Connective Tissue Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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Zhang J, Xu R, Wu L, Jiang J. Expression and function of Toll‑like receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Mol Med Rep 2019; 20:3565-3572. [PMID: 31485664 PMCID: PMC6755152 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. Toll‑like receptors (TLRs) are involved in non‑specific immunity. In the present study, the roles of TLRs in AS were investigated. The levels of inflammatory cytokines were detected by ELISA and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR). The expression levels of TLRs and nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB) signaling‑associated factors were determined via RT‑qPCR and western blot analyses. It was observed that the levels of interleukin (IL)‑6, tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF‑α), C‑reactive protein, TLR4 and TLR5 were increased in patients with AS, whereas those of IL‑10 and TLR3 were decreased. Pomalidomide, a TNF‑α release inhibitor, reduced the expression of IL‑6, TNF‑α, TLR4, TLR5 and phosphorylated‑p65, and upregulated that of IL‑10, TLR3 and p65 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with AS. Treatment of patients with infliximab, an anti‑TNF‑α monoclonal antibody, induced similar effects in vivo. In conclusion, it was revealed that inhibition of TNF‑α suppressed inflammatory responses in patients with AS, increased the expression of TLR3 and decreased NF‑κB signaling, and the expression of TLR4 and TLR5. The results indicated that TLRs and the NF‑κB signaling pathway were involved in the regulation of inflammatory responses in AS. These findings provided insight into the mechanisms underlying the development of AS and potential novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Mingzhou Hospital of Zhejiang University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315000, P.R. China
| | - Rongming Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, Mingzhou Hospital of Zhejiang University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315000, P.R. China
| | - Lei Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, Mingzhou Hospital of Zhejiang University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315000, P.R. China
| | - Jihong Jiang
- Department of Orthopedics, Mingzhou Hospital of Zhejiang University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315000, P.R. China
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Zhu W, He X, Cheng K, Zhang L, Chen D, Wang X, Qiu G, Cao X, Weng X. Ankylosing spondylitis: etiology, pathogenesis, and treatments. Bone Res 2019; 7:22. [PMID: 31666997 PMCID: PMC6804882 DOI: 10.1038/s41413-019-0057-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a common type of spondyloarthropathy, is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that mainly affects spine joints, causing severe, chronic pain; additionally, in more advanced cases, it can cause spine fusion. Significant progress in its pathophysiology and treatment has been achieved in the last decade. Immune cells and innate cytokines have been suggested to be crucial in the pathogenesis of AS, especially human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‑B27 and the interleukin‑23/17 axis. However, the pathogenesis of AS remains unclear. The current study reviewed the etiology and pathogenesis of AS, including genome-wide association studies and cytokine pathways. This study also summarized the current pharmaceutical and surgical treatment with a discussion of future potential therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhu
- 1Department of Orthopedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 100730 Beijing, China
| | - Xuxia He
- 2Department of Clinical Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 100730 Beijing, China
| | - Kaiyuan Cheng
- 1Department of Orthopedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 100730 Beijing, China
| | - Linjie Zhang
- 1Department of Orthopedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 100730 Beijing, China
| | - Di Chen
- 3Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Xiao Wang
- 4Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Guixing Qiu
- 1Department of Orthopedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 100730 Beijing, China
| | - Xu Cao
- 4Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Xisheng Weng
- 1Department of Orthopedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 100730 Beijing, China
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn disease share similar underlying pathophysiological processes, providing the opportunity to treat the patients using similar biological therapies. Failure of biological treatments due to underexposure can be managed by therapeutic drug monitoring. Adjusting the treatment based on pharmacokinetic monitoring can be further improved by taking pharmacodynamic parameters such as clinical and molecular markers into account. METHODS Here, we critically evaluate the existing evidence, the hurdles to be taken, and the opportunities for a widespread implementation of pharmacodynamic monitoring. RESULTS Pharmacodynamic monitoring typically is the monitoring of biochemical markers. A pharmacodynamic marker preferably is specific for the pharmacological action of a drug, but most of the time nonspecific pharmacodynamic markers are used, such as C-reactive protein and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Clinical pharmacodynamic markers typically evaluate physical variables or symptoms. Although physician-reported outcomes have been studied for a longer time and often have been shown to correlate well with molecular pharmacodynamic markers and treatment outcomes, the introduction of mobile health or mHealth technologies caused a shift toward patient-reported outcomes, with the associated challenge to consistently reflect the inflammatory state, thereby preventing undertreatment or unnecessary overdosing of patients. CONCLUSIONS The primary goal of pharmacodynamic monitoring is to optimize the response, but it can also have an impact on safety, costs, patient adherence, etc. Ideally, the constant remote monitoring of patient-reported disease activity is expected to become the standard, facilitated by mHealth technologies.
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47
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Yang R, Liu H, Fan M. A quick decrease of bone marrow edema in sacroiliac joint could be served as a novel marker for dose tapering of etanercept in ankylosing spondylitis patients. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019; 98:e14620. [PMID: 30882628 PMCID: PMC6426528 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000014620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of bone marrow edema (BME) in sacroiliac joint (SIJ) with clinical characteristics and clinical response, and whether the quick decrease of BME could be served as a novel marker for dose tapering of etanercept in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.Ninety active AS patients underwent etanercept treatment for 6 months were enrolled consecutively and classified into standard dose group (n = 37) and dose tapering group (n = 53). BME in SIJ and clinical response were assessed by SPARCC criteria and ASAS 40 response criteria, respectively. "Quick decrease of BME in SIJ" was defined as the decrease of SPARCC score≥50% from M0 to M1.BME in SIJ was positively correlated with pain VAS score, BASDAI score, CRP, IL-1β, IL-17, and TNF-α levels. ASAS 40 response rate at M6 was lower in dose tapering group than standard dose group, while higher in patients with a quick decrease of BME in SIJ than other patients. Besides, the ASAS 40 response rate in dose tapering group was similar to standard dose group in patients with a quick decrease of BME in SIJ but was lower than standard dose group in patients without a quick decrease of BME in SIJ at M6.A quick decrease of BME in SIJ predicts better treatment response to etanercept, and it might be served as a novel marker for dose tapering initiation of etanercept in AS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruishan Yang
- Department of CT/MRI, The Second People's Hospital of Liaocheng, Linqing, Shandong
| | - Hongda Liu
- Foot and Ankle Surgery, The Second Hospital of Tangshan, Tangshan, Hebei
| | - Mengpo Fan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Second People's Hospital of Liaocheng, Linqing, Shandong, China
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Soleimanifar N, Nicknam MH, Bidad K, Jamshidi AR, Mahmoudi M, Mostafaei S, Hosseini-Khah Z, Nikbin B. Effect of food intake and ambient air pollution exposure on ankylosing spondylitis disease activity. Adv Rheumatol 2019; 59:9. [PMID: 30777138 DOI: 10.1186/s42358-019-0051-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by axial arthritis. The genetic-environmental factors seem to be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease and the disease debilitates patients during the most productive stages of their lives. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between two environmental factors, diet and air pollution with disease activity and functional impairment in AS. METHODS A case-control study was carried out. Thirty patients with AS and 30 age and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Disease scores including BASMI, BASDAI, BASFI, and BASG were calculated by means of the international Ankylosing Spondylitis Assessment working group consensus recommendations. The food intake was evaluated by semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (147 items FFQ). Level of air pollution indices, PM10 and PM2.5 information was obtained from the Tehran air quality control network. RESULTS Total energy and fat intake, some vitamins (A, B1, B2, C) and mineral intake (potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper and selenium) were significantly higher in patients with AS compared to controls. Fat component consumption especially Saturated Fat of Food was moderately correlated with BASFI score. PM2.5 long term exposure was strongly correlated with BASMI, BASFI and BASDAI scores of patients. CONCLUSION High-fat diet and long term exposure to air pollution are associated with worse disease outcomes reported in patients with AS. This is an interesting area of investigation in AS pathogenesis and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narjes Soleimanifar
- Molecular immunology research center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Immunology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Nicknam
- Molecular immunology research center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Immunology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Katayoon Bidad
- Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Reza Jamshidi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Mahmoudi
- Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shayan Mostafaei
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Zahra Hosseini-Khah
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behrouz Nikbin
- Molecular immunology research center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Immunology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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49
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Assessment of immunological profile in ankylosing spondylitis patients following a clinical trial with guluronic acid (G2013), as a new NSAID with immunomodulatory properties. Immunol Res 2018; 67:108-115. [DOI: 10.1007/s12026-018-9042-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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50
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Abdolmohammadi K, Pakdel FD, Aghaei H, Assadiasl S, Fatahi Y, Rouzbahani NH, Rezaiemanesh A, Soleimani M, Tayebi L, Nicknam MH. Ankylosing spondylitis and mesenchymal stromal/stem cell therapy: a new therapeutic approach. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 109:1196-1205. [PMID: 30551369 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.10.137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory rheumatoid disease categorized within spondyloarthropathies (SpA) and manifested by chronic spinal arthritis. Several innate and adaptive immune cells and secreted-mediators have been indicated to play a role in AS pathogenesis. Considering the limitations of current therapeutic approaches (NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, DMARDs and biologic drugs), finding new treatments with fewer side effects and high therapeutic potentials are required in AS. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with considerable immunomodulatory and regenerative properties could be able to attenuate the inflammatory responses and help tissue repair by cell-to-cell contact and secretion of soluble factors. Moreover, MSCs do not express HLA-DR, which renders them a favorable therapeutic choice for transplantation in immune-mediated disorders. In the present review, we describe immunopathogenesis and current treatments restrictions of AS. Afterwards, immunomodulatory properties and applications of MSCs in immune-mediated disorders, as well as recent findings of clinical trials involving mesenchymal stem cell therapy (MSCT) in ankylosing spondylitis, will be discussed in detail. Additional studies are required to investigate several features of MSCT such as cell origin, dosage, administration route and, specifically, the most suitable stage of disease for ideal intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamal Abdolmohammadi
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Stem Cell Biology, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Dadgar Pakdel
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamideh Aghaei
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Assadiasl
- Molecular Immunology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yousef Fatahi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Negin Hosseini Rouzbahani
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Stem Cell Biology, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Rezaiemanesh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Masoud Soleimani
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran; Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Lobat Tayebi
- Marquette University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA
| | - Mohammad Hossein Nicknam
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Molecular Immunology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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