Upregulation of transforming growth factor-B1 gene in ankylosing spondylitis patients

Abstract

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the axial skeleton. The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is a cytokine that has the dual action of suppressing inflammatory cytokines and augmenting inflammation. The role of this cytokine in ankylosing spondylitis is still unknown. The current study purposed to determine </span><em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">TGF-B1</span></em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> gene expression in ankylosing spondylitis. A case-control study of 48 ankylosing spondylitis patients and 47 age- and gender-matched healthy controls was conducted. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction with specific primers was used to measure the expression of </span><em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">TGF-B1</span></em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> gene in participants. Clinical indices of the disease, including</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">(</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">BASDAI</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">)</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">, Metrology Index</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> (</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">BASMI</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">), </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Functional Index </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">(</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">BASFI</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">), and </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">AS quality of life</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> (</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">ASQoL</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">) were determined. The expression of </span><em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">TGF-B1</span></em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> was compared between cases and controls. Correlations between gene expression and clinical indices were assessed. The expression of </span><em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">TGF-B1</span></em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> was significantly higher in AS patients than in the control group (</span><em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">P</span></em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">-value < 0.0001). The change was 1.32-fold. There was no significant correlation between gene expression and AS clinical indices. The increase in </span><em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">TGF-B1</span></em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> expression possibly demonstrates its activity in AS disease either in a regulatory role as a response to inflammation in the body or as the augmentation of inflammation which exacerbates the disease. Further research needs to be done on this issue to resolve this uncertainty.</span>