title: Assessment of semaphorin 3A and its role in bone remodelling in a group of ankylosing spondylitis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several molecules are involved in the pathogenesis of new bone formation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum levels of semaphoring 3A in AS and to investigate any correlations with radiographic damage, disease activity, function and treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  AS patients who fulfilled the modified New York criteria were enrolled for this study. Healthy subjects were also enrolled as control group. BASDAI, ASDAS-CRP, BASMI, BASFI, patients and physician VAS, C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were evaluated at baseline visit. Radiographs of the spine and pelvis performed within six months from the enrolment in the study were collected in all patients. Spinal damage was assessed using the mSASSS. Serum concentrations of semaphorin3A were assessed at baseline and after four months of therapy in patients who started an anti-TNF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty healthy subjects and forty AS patients were enrolled in the study. Of these patients, 15 started anti-TNF therapy the day of baseline visit. Semaphorin3A serum concentrations [median (25th-75th)] were similar in AS patients [0.26 (0.20-0.31) ng/ml] and controls [0.28 (0.26-0.3) ng/ml; p=ns). No significant correlation was found between semaphorin 3A serum levels and radiographic damage index. Semaphorin 3A serum levels positively correlated with ESR values (rho=0.37, p=0.049) and with disease activity assessed by the physician VAS (rho=0.47, p<0.01). No differences were found in the semaphorin3A serum levels after 4 months, compared to baseline values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study could contribute to the intriguing topic of bone remodelling in AS.
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina e Scienze della Salute Vincenzo Tiberio, Università del Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
authors: Fabio Massimo
authors: FM
authors: Perrotta
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, UOC di Reumatologia, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors: Fulvia
authors: F
authors: Ceccarelli
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, UOC di Reumatologia, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors: Cristiana
authors: C
authors: Barbati
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, UOC di Reumatologia, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors: Tania
authors: T
authors: Colasanti
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, UOC di Reumatologia, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Montepaone
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, UOC di Reumatologia, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors: Cristiano
authors: C
authors: Alessandri
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, UOC di Reumatologia, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors: Guido
authors: G
authors: Valesini
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina e Scienze della Salute Vincenzo Tiberio, Università del Molise, Campobasso, Italy. enniolubrano@hotmail.com.
authors: Ennio
authors: E
authors: Lubrano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D040121:Semaphorin-3A / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D015415:Biomarkers; C108639:SEMA3A protein, human; D040121:Semaphorin-3A; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha