title: The role of Vitamin D in immuno-inflammatory responses in Ankylosing Spondylitis patients with and without Acute Anterior Uveitis.
abstract: Hypothesis:Abnormal Vitamin D (Vit D) level could have consequences on the immuno-inflammatory processes in Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS).Aim:The purpose of this study was to analyze the role of Vitamin D in the interplay between immune and inflammation effectors in AS associated-Acute Anterior Uveitis (AAU).Methods and Results:25-hydroxyvitamin D (Vit D), LL-37 peptide, IL-8 and Serum Amyloid A (SAA) were identified and quantified in the serum/ plasma of thirty-four AS patients [eleven AS patients presenting AAU (AAU AS patients) and twenty-three AS patients without AAU (wAAU AS patients)] and eighteen healthy individuals (Control) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Acute-phase SAA level was significantly higher in AS patients compared to Controls. Contrary with wAAU AS patients, significantly elevated levels of IL-8, and diminished levels of Vit D characterized AAU AS patients. Regarding LL-37, its level decreased concomitantly with the level of Vit D. When AS patients were subgrouped based on AAU presence or on Vit D level, important associations between immuno-inflammatory assessed markers and AS features were noticed. Generally, Vit D levels were associated indirectly with leukocytes/ neutrophils number or with ESR, CRP, and Fibrinogen levels. The levels of SAA and IL-8 associated directly with AAU or with AAU relapses, especially in AS patients with Vit D insufficiency, while SAA associated directly with infection/ inflammatory markers and with disease activity indexes or with the degree of functional limitation.Discussion:Altered levels of Vit D affect the balance between LL-37, IL-8 and SAA, suggesting an association with AAU, an extra-articular manifestation of AS.Abbreviations:Vit D = Vitamin D, AS = Ankylosing Spondylitis, AAU = Acute Anterior Uveitis, AAU AS = AS patients with AAU, wAAU AS = AS patients without AAU, SSZ = Sulphasalazine, Leu = Leukocytes, Neu = Neutrophils.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Mitulescu
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Immunity Laboratory, Cantacuzino National Institute for Research, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stavaru
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania; "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Voinea
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Immunity Laboratory, Cantacuzino National Institute for Research, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Banica
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Immunity Laboratory, Cantacuzino National Institute for Research, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matache
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; Department of Rheumatology, "Sf. Maria" Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Predeteanu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000032:analysis; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016209:Interleukin-8; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
keywords: Ankylosing Spondylitis; IL-8; LL-37; SAA; Vitamin D