title: Evaluation of the T helper 17 axis in ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: To evaluate the T helper 17 (Th17) axis and its relation to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha blockage and disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The study included 127 AS patients (100M/27F) and 38 (27M/11F) controls. Spinal mobility was assessed by the bath ankylosing spondylitis metrology index (BASMI). Patients were also evaluated with the bath ankylosing spondylitis functional (BASFI) and bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index. Cytokines including IL-6, IL-12, TGF-β, IL-17A, and IL-23 were measured in serum sample using commercially available ELISA kits. Cytokines including IL-6, IL-12, TGF-β, IL-17, and IL-23 were significantly higher in the AS patients than the controls (P < 0.05). The Th-17-related cytokines were not different between patients treated with anti-TNF and conventional therapies (P > 0.05). Cytokines were also similar between patients with active and inactive disease (P > 0.05). On correlation analysis, IL-17 was correlated with IL-23 and IL-12 (P < 0.05) and IL-23 showed correlations with IL-12 and BASMI (P < 0.05). We found serum levels of Th-17-related cytokines to be significantly increased in the sera of AS patients. Disease activity and treatment type did not affect the level of these cytokines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Izmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Yenisehir, Izmir, Turkey. taylanally@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taylan
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.forename: Didem L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kozaci
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yuksel
authors.forename: Safak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bilge
authors.forename: Yasar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Gulten
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sop
authors.forename: Isil
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Coker
authors.forename: Necati
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gunay
authors.forename: Nurullah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akkoc
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood*; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013131:Spine / Q000503:physiopathology; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014421:Turkey; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C508717:IL17A protein, human; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12