METTL14-m6A-FOXO3a axis regulates autophagy and inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis.

The role of m6A in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) remains largely obscure. In this study, we found that m6A modification was decreased in T cells of AS, and the abnormal m6A modification was attributed to the downregulation of methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14). METTL14 exerted a critical role in regulating autophagy activity and inflammation via targeting Forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a).

PRICKLE1 gene methylation and abnormal transcription in Chinese patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common inflammatory arthritis without a reliable biomarker. The role of methylation and mRNA expression of PRICKLE1 promoter in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis remains unclear.

Methods: A two-stage case-control design was used to detect the characteristics of methyl group and transcriptome of PRICKLE1 gene in Ankylosing spondylitis.

The combined effect of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, in the U.S. adult population.

The evaluation of heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) impact on arthritis is usually limited to the analysis of the arthritis subtype (rheumatoid arthritis, RA), whereas studies on osteoarthritis (OA) are relatively sparse. Furthermore, the combined effect of HMs and PAHs co-exposure on arthritis also has rarely been analyzed. Herein, we aimed to comprehensively estimate the association between HMs and PAHs (three blood HMs and six urinary PAHs metabolites) co-exposure and arthritis.

DNA methylation and transcriptional profiles of IRF5 gene in ankylosing spondylitis: A case-control study.

Background: Interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) plays an important role in the inflammation and immune responses, but its association with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is under investigated. We aimed to examine the association of IRF5 promoter methylation patterns and transcript levels with the susceptibility to AS.

Methods: A total of 60 AS patients and 60 healthy controls were included in this study.

Telomere length in patients with osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Telomere length (TL) as a biomarker of aging was associated with many age-related diseases. The relationship between TL and osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of joint diseases, had been investigated in a number of studies, but with the result inconsistent.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the relationship between TL and OA.

Astragalus-mediated stimulation on antigen-presenting cells could result in higher IL-21 production from CXCR5 Tfh-like cells and better IL-21-mediated effector functions.

T cells in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients display multiple features of impairment and exhaustion. Here, we hypothesize that Astragalus membranaceus, a herbal medicine commonly used to accompany chemotherapy, might have adjuvating effects on T cells from RCC patients. To investigate this, circulating T cells from healthy individuals and RCC patients were cocultured ex vivo with aqueous extract from Astragalus.

Association of CTLA-4 (+49 A/G) polymorphism with susceptibility to autoimmune diseases: A meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

Objectives: In recent years, more and more studies have been focusing on the association between Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) (+49 A/G) gene polymorphism and autoimmune diseases. However, the results of previous studies are still controversial. The meta-analysis is aiming at determining the association in CTLA-4 (+49 A/G) gene rs231775 polymorphism and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Lipoxin A4 ameliorates alveolar fluid clearance disturbance in lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury via aquaporin 5 and MAPK signaling pathway.

Background: A characteristic of acute lung injury (ALI) is the inflammatory damage of alveolar fluid transport. Lipoxins are endogenous lipids involving in the resolution of inflammation. It is found that lipoxin A4 (LXA4) has the distinct properties to improve the anti-edema and pro-resolution function in inflammation.