Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease, which is characterized by inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints. To date, the disease etiology remains unclear. In the present study, the correlation of T lymphocyte subset changes with the progression of ankylosing spondylitis was investigated. A total of 55 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (22 severe and 23 mild cases) and 20 healthy individuals were selected. Firstly, the punctured cells in the lesions and the serum were collected, and the lymphocytes and the peripheral blood mononuclear cells were prepared. Secondly, quantitative PCR, ELISA and flow cytometry analyses were carried out to detect the levels of a series of immunoglobulins, complements, helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells, regulatory cells and cytokines. The expression levels of α-globulin, γ-globulin, immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgA, IgM, serum complement C3, and complement C4 were found to be significantly increased in ankylosing spondylitis patients. In addition, the percentage of Th1 and Th17 cells was found to be significantly higher in the ankylosing spondylitis groups (mild and severe) compared with the healthy individuals. As a result, the Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg ratios were significantly higher in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. In addition, T lymphocyte subset ratio imbalances contributed to an increased expression of immune mediators, including interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-17A. The mRNA and protein expression levels of IFN-γ and IL-17A were found to be higher in the ankylosing spondylitis groups compared with the control group. The present study provided further evidence on the function and underlying mechanism of T lymphocyte subsets, which may be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of ankylosing spondylitis.
Highlights
Ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease, is characterized by inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints, which may induce new bone formation in the affected areas [1,2]
The results of the present study demonstrate the variations in T lymphocyte subsets in mild and severe ankylosing spondylitis patients
Th1, Th17, Tc1 and Tc17 cell percentages were found to be significant higher in ankylosing spondylitis patients compared with the control group
Summary
Ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease, is characterized by inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints, which may induce new bone formation in the affected areas [1,2]. The development of spinal syndesmophytes, resulting in ankylosis between vertebral bodies, is a common symptom of the disease. Upon ankylosis of the vertebral bodies, the entire spine is distorted and may form a ‘bamboo spine’ [3]. Clinical therapy and diagnosis is mainly based on the radiographic progression of ankylosing spondylitis [4]. Only severe ankylosing spondylitis‐induced spinal damage can be identified through radiographic detection [5]. Understanding the molecular progression of ankylosing spondylitis would aid early diagnosis and treatment during pathogenesis
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