ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the expression and significance of miR-21 in patients with primary gout. Methods The patients were divided into 4 groups: 35 acute gout patients (AG), 50 intermittent gout patients (IG), 25 chronic gout patients (CG) and 39 healthy patients. Their peripheral blood were collected and laboratory indexes were recorded. The expression of miR-21 and Nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) mRNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The blood and clinical data of another 5 healthy volunteers were collected, their peripheral blood was stimulated with 100 μg/ml monosodium urate (MSU) for 1 hour, pho-sphate buffer (PBS) was used as controls, then the expression of microRNA (miR)-21, NLRP3, interleukin (IL)-1β mRNA was detected by RT-qPCR. Rank sum test and spearman correlation analysis were used for data analysis. Results In primary gout patients, the expression of miR-21 in AG [12 ×10-4 (8.0 ×10-4)], IG [9.4 ×10-4 (6.9 ×10-4)], CG [7.3 ×10-4 (5.6 ×10-4)] was significantly higher than that in healthy control group [1.0×10-4(2.0×10-4)] (Z=9.83, P=0.02], while the expression of NLRP3 in AG[0.0444(0.0233)], IG[0.0581(0.0326)], CG[0.0314(0.0198)] was significantly lower than that in healthy control group [0.0886(0.0359)] (Z=13.82, P<0.01). In the primary gout of IG group, the expression of miR-21 was positively correlated with NLRP3 mRNA (r=0.449, P=0.016). After stimulated by 100 μg/ml MSU, the expression of miR-21 of the stimulated group [8.78×10-4(14×10-4)] was higher than that in the control group [6.25×10-4(6×10-4)](Z=-2.203, P<0.05), and the expression of IL-1βin stimulated group [3.06(2.00)] was higher than that in the control group [2.64 (1.22] (Z=-2.203, P<0.05). The level of miR-21 in patients with primary gout was positively correlated with the level of uric acid (UA), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (AST) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (ALT) (r=0.473, 0.639, 0.487, P<0.05). Conclusion The increase of miR-21 in patients with primary gout may be involved in the inflammatory reaction of gout.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the role of high mobility group box l protein (HMGB1) in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods Enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) was used to test the levels of plasma HMGB1 levels in 58 patients with active AS [bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI)>6, or 6>BASDAI>4 and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)>22 mm/1 h, 6>BASDAI>4 and hypersensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP)>9 mg/L], 73 cases of stable AS (BASDAI<4) and 70 healthy control. Twelve patients who were treated with TNF-alpha antagonist for 6 month were followed-up. Their plasma levels of HMGB1 were detected before and after treatment. Quantitative data were described by, while qualitative data were described by case number. Variance analysis or rank sum test was adopted for the difference between measurement data groups, LSD method was adopted for further pair-wise comparison. The correlation between variables was analyzed by using Spearman correlation analysis. Results The levels of plasma HMGB1, ESR, hsCRP, White blood cell WBC, GR, Mo and GLOB were significantly higher in the AS patients than those in the healthy control group (P<0.001), and the level of plasma HMGB1 in the AS patients was significantly positively correlated with BASDAI, Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), ESR, hsCRP, WBC, GR, Mo, and GLOB (r=0.288, 0.174, 0.308, 0.243, 0.261, 0.301, 0.279, 0.289; P=0.004, 0.047, 0.000, 0.005, 0.003, 0.000, 0.001 ,0.001). The level of plasma HMGB1, BASDAI, BASFI, ESR, hsCRP, WBC, GR, GLOB were significantly higher in the active AS group than in the stable group (Z=-3.598,-9.456,-5.907, -2.562, -3.178, 4.134, -2.574, -4.582; P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.012, 0.002, 0.000, 0.011, 0.000). The level of plasma HMGB1 was not found statistically poor in the patients with different expressions of HLA-B27, or hip involvement and history of vuvitis (P>0.05). The plasma HMGB1 level, BASDAI, BAIFI, ESR, hsCRP and GLOB in the 12 followed-up patients were significantly decreased (P=0.034, 0.002, 0.002, 0.005, 0.004, 0.004) after being treated with biological agents for 6 months. Conclusion HMGB1 might play a vital role in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis,and the HMGB1 might be used as a clinical indicator to evaluate the activity of AS and to assess the clinical efficacy.