Elevated miR-29a expression is not correlated with disease activity index in PBMCs of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVES: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by new bone formation. Recent evidence suggests that new bone formation in AS may be due to upregulation of Wnt signaling in the osteoblastic pathway secondary to low serum Dickkopf homolog 1 (Dkk-1) levels. And miR-29a orchestrates osteoblast differentiation through direct targeting and negative regulation of Dkk-1.