Wen J T, Zhang D H, Fang P F, Li M H, Wang R J, Li S H
Department of Orthopedics, TCM Hospital of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Department of Orthopedics, TCM Hospital of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
Genet Mol Res. 2017 Mar 16;16(1):gmr-16-01-gmr.16019322. doi: 10.4238/gmr16019322.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a progressive disease of the spine, manifests as peripheral arthritis with tendon and ligament inflammation that restricts activity. AS is a rheumatoid autoimmune disease although the rheumatoid factor is absent in patients with AS. It is characterized by inflammatory changes such as elevated levels of serum inflammatory factors. The roles of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in autoimmune diseases are well known. However, the roles of these cytokines in the diagnosis and prognosis of AS is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of Th1/Th2 cytokines in the diagnosis and prognosis of AS. The BASDAI activity, BASFI functional index, BASMI measurement score, and the levels of CRP and ESR were measured during the treatment of patients with active AS. The levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α (Th1 cytokines) and IL-4 and IL-10 (Th2 cytokines) were quantified. The levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly low in the serum of patients with active AS, who also had high IFN-γ and TNF-α levels compared to those in the control individuals (P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 increased while those of IFN-γ and TNF-α decreased compared to those in individuals with active AS (P < 0.05). The disease activity index correlated positively with levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α and negatively with levels of IL-4 and IL-10, but not with that of CRP or ESR. Changes in the levels of Th1/2 cytokines in patients with AS may reflect disease activity and prognosis.
强直性脊柱炎（AS）是一种脊柱的进行性疾病，表现为周围关节炎，并伴有肌腱和韧带炎症，从而限制活动。AS是一种类风湿性自身免疫疾病，尽管AS患者体内不存在类风湿因子。其特征是存在炎症变化，如血清炎症因子水平升高。Th1和Th2细胞因子在自身免疫疾病中的作用已为人所知。然而，这些细胞因子在AS的诊断和预后中的作用却鲜为人知。本研究的目的是探讨Th1/Th2细胞因子在AS诊断和预后中的作用。在对活动期AS患者进行治疗期间，测量了BASDAI活动度、BASFI功能指数、BASMI测量评分以及CRP和ESR水平。对IFN-γ和TNF-α（Th1细胞因子）以及IL-4和IL-10（Th2细胞因子）的水平进行了定量分析。活动期AS患者血清中IL-4和IL-10水平显著较低，与对照组相比，其IFN-γ和TNF-α水平也较高（P < 0.05）。治疗后，与活动期AS患者相比，IL-4和IL-10水平升高，而IFN-γ和TNF-α水平降低（P < 0.05）。疾病活动指数与IFN-γ和TNF-α水平呈正相关，与IL-4和IL-10水平呈负相关，但与CRP或ESR水平无关。AS患者Th1/2细胞因子水平的变化可能反映疾病活动度和预后。
