The Role of CD1 Gene Polymorphism in the Genetic Susceptibility to Spondyloarthropathies in the Moroccan Population and the Possible Cross-Link with Celiac Disease

Identification of a Novel Gene Expression Signature Associated with Amino Acid Metabolism (AAM) in Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)

Background

Studies have proven that amino acid metabolism (AAM) plays an important role in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Therefore, this study identified key AAM-related genes (AAMRGs) for the diagnosis and prediction of AS.

Methods

Firstly, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between AS and normal groups in the GSE25101 and GSE73754 datasets downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and they were intersected to get common DEGs (Co-DEGs). Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify AS and AAM score-related genes (AS-AAMSRGs). Then, AAM related DEGs (AAMR DEGs) were acquired by intersection of Co-DEGs and AS-AAMSRGs. Moreover, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was implemented on AAMR DEGs to identify diagnostic genes, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was used to explore the functional pathways of diagnostic genes. By screening differential immune cells, the correlation between differential immune cells and diagnostic genes was further analyzed. Finally, miRNA-mRNA networks were constructed and drug prediction analysis was performed.

Results

By overlapping to obtain three AAMR DEGs (TP53INP1, TUBB and RBM47). The results of nomogram and decision curve analysis (DCA) suggested that three AAMR DEGs had diagnostic value for AS and significantly enriched to neutrophil activation, neutrophil degranulation. The proportion of eight kinds of immune cells in AS and normal groups was significantly different, such as activated dendritic cell, CD56 bright natural killer cell, effector memory CD4 T cell. In the miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks, three miRNAs (has-miR-429, has-miR-200c-3p, has-miR-200b-3p) could regulate TP53INP1 and TUBB. There was only one miRNA (has-miR-122-5p) could regulate RBM47. Finally, 51 target drugs (such as colchicine, vinblastine, vincristine) were associated with TUBB.

Conclusion

TP53INP1, TUBB and RBM47 might play key roles in AS and could be used as potential biomarkers of AS.

Sex Bias in Diagnostic Delay: Are Axial Spondyloarthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis Still Phantom Diseases in Women? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Diagnostic delay (DD) is associated with poor radiological and quality of life outcomes in axial spondyloarthritis (ax-SpA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The female (F) population is often misdiagnosed, as classification criteria were previously studied mostly in males (M). We conducted a systematic review to investigate (i) the difference in DD between the sexes, the impact of HLA*B27 and clinical and social factors (work and education) on this gap, and (ii) the possible influence of the year of publication (before and after the 2009 ASAS classification criteria), geographical region (Europe and Israel vs. extra-European countries), sample sources (mono-center vs. multi-center studies), and world bank (WB) economic class on DD in both sexes. We searched, in PubMed and Embase, studies that reported the mean or median DD or the statistical difference in DD between sexes, adding a manual search. Starting from 399 publications, we selected 26 studies (17 from PubMed and Embase, 9 from manual search) that were successively evaluated with the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (m-NOS). The mean DD of 16 high-quality (m-NOS > 4/8) studies, pooled with random-effects meta-analysis, produces results higher in F (1.48, 95% CI 0.83-2.14, p < 0.0001) but with significant results at the second analysis only in articles published before the 2009 ASAS classification criteria (0.95, 95% CI 0.05-1.85, p < 0.0001) and in extra-European countries (3.16, 95% CI 2.11-4.22, p < 0.05). With limited evidence, some studies suggest that DD in F might be positively influenced by HLA*B27 positivity, peripheral involvement, and social factors.