The Role of Alpha Defensins in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Abstract

Objectives Defensins are a family of antimicrobial peptides. Elevated levels of human neutrophil peptides (HNP 1–3) are seen in blood samples of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and in many rheumatic diseases. It has been suggested that they may play a significant role in the progression and pathogenesis of these diseases. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the levels of HNP 1–3 in sera of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and its association with disease activity and other clinical features of AS.

Methods A total of 36 patients, who met the Modified New York Criteria for AS, and 50 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. The Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) were used to assess disease activity. The Bath AS Radiology Index (BASRI) was used to assess radiological damage. Spinal and hip measurements were determined by the Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI). An AS Quality of Life (ASQoL) questionnaire was administered to assess the disease-related quality of life. Serum HNP 1–3 levels were determined using the ELISA kit.

Results Mean serum HNP 1–3 levels were significantly higher in patients with AS (287.01±201.307 vs. 152.09±43.75 pg/ml) compared with HCs (p=0.001). HNP 1–3 levels did not correlate with BASDAI (p=0.519), ASDAS-CRP (p=0.424), BASRI (p=0.280), BASMI (p=0.168), ASQoL (p=0.307), ESR (p=0.706) and CRP (p=0.157) values.

Conclusion Elevated serum levels of HNP 1–3 may play an important role in the pathogenetic mechanisms of AS. This result may give us an opportunity to develop new treatment strategies considering the role of these peptides in the pathogenetic mechanisms of AS.

Zusammenfassung

Zielsetzung Defensine sind eine Familie antimikrobieller Peptide. Erhöhte Spiegel an humanen neutrophilen Peptiden (HNP 1–3) wurden in Blutproben von Patienten mit entzündlicher Darmerkrankung (IBD) und bei vielen rheumatischen Erkrankungen gezeigt. Es wurde vermutet, dass sie eine bedeutende Rolle bei der Progression und Pathogenese dieser Krankheiten spielen könnten. Daher wollten wir die HNP 1–3-Spiegel in Seren von Patienten mit ankylosierender Spondylitis (AS) und deren Zusammenhang mit der Krankheitsaktivität und anderen klinischen Merkmalen untersuchen.

Methoden Insgesamt 36 Patienten, die die modifizierten New Yorker Kriterien für AS und 50 gesunde Kontrollen (HCs) erfüllten, wurden in diese Studie eingeschlossen. Der Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) und der Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) wurden verwendet, um die Krankheitsaktivität zu bewerten. Der Bath AS Radiology Index (BASRI) wurde verwendet, um radiologische Schäden zu bewerten. Wirbelsäulen- und Hüftmessungen wurden mit dem Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI) bestimmt. Zur Beurteilung der krankheitsbedingten Lebensqualität wurde ein ASQoL-Fragebogen (AS Quality of Life) ausgefüllt. Die Serum-HNP-1–3-Spiegel wurden unter Verwendung eines ELISA-Kits bestimmt.

Ergebnisse Der mittlere HNP 1–3-Spiegel im Serum war bei Patienten mit AS signifikant höher (287,01±201,307 gegenüber 152,09±43,75 pg / ml) als bei HCs (p=0,001). Die HNP 1–3-Spiegel korrelierten nicht mit BASDAI (p=0,519), ASDAS-CRP (p=0,424), BASRI (p=0,280), BASMI (p=0,168), ASQoL (p=0,307), ESR (p =) 0,706) und CRP (p=0,157).

Schlussfolgerung Erhöhte Serumspiegel von HNP 1–3 können eine wichtige Rolle für die pathogenetischen Mechanismen der AS spielen. Dieses Ergebnis könnte uns eine neue Gelegenheit geben, neue Therapiestrategien unter Berücksichtigung der Rolle dieser Peptide in den pathogenetischen Mechanismen der AS zu entwickeln.

Key words

humane neutrophile Peptide 1–3 - Spondylitis ankylosans - Krankheitsaktivität

Schlüsselwörter

human neutrophil peptides 1–3 - ankylosing spondylitis - disease activity

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