title: Suppressors of cytokine signalling in ankylosing spondylitis and their associations with disease severity, acute-phase reactants and serum cytokines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the suppressors of cytokine signalling (SOCS1 and SOCS3) expression in peripheral blood cells in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and their associations with clinical and laboratory manifestations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The levels of SOCS1 and SOCS3 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), T cells and monocytes were measured by RT-PCR in 53 AS patients and 31 healthy controls. Patient's serum IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17A levels were determined by ELISA. We evaluated patient's disease activity, functional ability and global assessment, and tested their ESR, CRP and IgA levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cellular SOCS1 expression did not show significant differences between AS patients and controls. However, T cells SOCS1 decreased significantly in the AS subgroup with lower ESR than controls (p=0.013). PBMCs (p=0.047) and T cells (p=0.035) SOCS1 decreased significantly in the AS subgroup with lower CRP than controls. Importantly, SOCS3 expression increased significantly in AS patients compared to the controls in PBMCs (p=0.025), T cells (p=0.003) and monocytes (p=0.009). Moreover, PBMCs SOCS3 correlated with ESR (r=0.297, p=0.031) and CRP (r=0.320, p=0.019). T cells SOCS3 correlated with BASFI (r=0.337, p=0.015), ESR (r=0.435, p=0.001) and CRP (r=0.300, p=0.029). Monocytes SOCS3 correlated with ESR (r=0.281, p=0.041) and IgA (r=0.426, p=0.006). Furthermore, T cells SOCS1 (r=-0.454, p=0.023) and T cells SOCS3 (r=-0.405, p=0.045) negatively correlated with serum IL-17A. Monocytes SOCS3 negatively correlated with serum IL-6 (r=-0.584, p=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decreased SOCS1 and increased SOCS3 expression in AS PBMCs and T cells, and their correlation with patient's functional ability, acute-phase reactants and serum pro-inflammatory cytokines suggested that SOCS may participate in the pathogenesis of AS.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taiwan, and School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien; and Taipei Medial University, and Municipal Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Hsiung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hung-An
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Taipei Medical University, and Municipal Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsien-Tzung
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taiwan, and School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chin-Hsiu
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: National Yang-Ming University, and Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chang-Youh
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: National Yang-Ming University, and Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. ctchou@vghtpe.gov.tw.
authors.forename: Chung-Tei
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C108944:SOCS1 protein, human; C106644:SOCS3 protein, human; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein