Abstract

AIM
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease, mainly affects the axial skeleton, leading to sacroiliitis and rigidity of the spine. Both spinal rigidity and syndesmophyte development can affect bone formation and resorption. In addition, inflammatory cytokines and cell adhesion molecules are correlated with bone metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of gender difference and syndesmophyte formation on cytokines, adhesion molecules and bone metabolism markers in AS patients.
METHOD
Eighty-seven AS patients (68 males, 19 females) were enrolled in this study. Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed to measure studied parameters.
RESULTS
Regarding gender, the serum levels of C-terminal crosslinking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), vascular endothelial growth factor, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin (IL)-18 in male patients were all significantly higher than those in female patients. The serum levels of osteocalcin and type I procollagen N-terminal propeptide showed downward trends, whereas CTX and parathyroid hormone concentrations were remarkably lower and IL-18 levels were significantly higher in male AS patients with syndesmophytes compared to those without syndesmophytes. In female patients, CTX and IL-6 levels in those with syndesmophytes were significantly higher than in those without syndesmophytes. Cytokines, adhesion molecules and bone metabolism markers were all positively related with syndesmophyte formation and gender differences.
CONCLUSION
AS patients with syndesmophytes experienced imbalance of bone metabolism due to inflammatory cytokine release. Male AS patients had high levels of bone resorption markers, cytokines and adhesion molecules, reflecting a disorder of bone metabolism.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Huang WN, Tso TK, Kuo YC, Tsay GJ

Institution

Department of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.

Source

International journal of rheumatic diseases 15:2 2012 Apr pg 163-8

MeSH

Adult
Biological Markers
Bone Remodeling
Bone and Bones
Cell Adhesion Molecules
Collagen Type I
Cytokines
Female
Humans
Inflammation
Male
Osteocalcin
Osteophyte
Parathyroid Hormone
Peptide Fragments
Peptides
Procollagen
Severity of Illness Index
Sex Factors
Spondylitis, Ankylosing

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22462419