title: Association between cytokines and methylation of SOCS-1 in serum of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: In this study, we aim to determine the relationship between methylation level of an inflammatory-related gene, SOCS-1 in serum samples of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and their degree of inflammation as well as serum cytokine level. Quantitative real time methylation specific PCR was performed to examine the promoter methylation of SOCS-1 in serum samples of 43 HLA-B27+ AS patients and 6 B27+ healthy controls. Degree of inflammation was accessed by spondylopathy, sacroiliitis as well as acute phase reactant, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein (CRP). Serum IL-6 and TNF-α level was determined by ELISA assay. SOCS-1 methylation can only be found in serums samples from patients but not normal control. Methylation of SOCS-1 significantly associated with severity of patient's spondylopathy (P < 0.005), sacroiliitis (P < 0.005) and acute phase reactant CRP (P = 0.0278). AS patients also exhibited higher serum IL-6 (P < 0.001) and TNF-α level (P < 0.001). Importantly, patients with high serum IL-6 or TNF-α level demonstrated a significantly higher SOCS-1 methylation (P < 0.001). In conclusion, this proof-of-principle study suggested that methylation of SOCS-1 can be detected in serum of HLA-B27+ AS patients but not in B27+ controls. The pathogenic potential of SOCS-1 methylation in AS deserves further investigation.
authors: Department of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital, Dalin, Chia-Yi, Taiwan, ROC.
authors: Ning-Sheng
authors: NS
authors: Lai
authors: Jian-Liang
authors: JL
authors: Chou
authors: Gary C W
authors: GC
authors: Chen
authors: Su-Qin
authors: SQ
authors: Liu
authors: Ming-Chi
authors: MC
authors: Lu
authors: Michael W Y
authors: MW
authors: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; C108944:SOCS1 protein, human; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha