Circulating miR-222-3p is associated with ankylosing spondylitis development and predicts therapeutic efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic rheumatic disease, and some microRNAs (miRNAs) in AS have been identified. This study aimed to measure miR-222-3p expression in AS patients, investigate the association of miR-222-3p with AS disease activity, and explore the clinical value of miR-222-3p in diagnosing AS and predicting therapeutic efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on AS patients. This study included 96 patients with AS, 58 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 90 healthy controls. miR-222-3p expression was detected by reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The ability of miR-222-3p to discriminate between different groups was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis. The predictive value of miR-222-3p on the efficacy of NSAID treatment for AS was assessed by logistic regression analysis. AS patients treated with oral NSAIDs diclofenac sodium were divided into response (n = 76) and no-response (n = 20) groups after 16 weeks of treatment. miR-222-3p in AS patients was higher than that in healthy subjects and RA patients. miR-222-3p had high diagnostic value in distinguishing patients with AS from RA patients and healthy controls. miR-222-3p, increased in active AS patients, had the ability to screen active AS patients from inactive AS patients. miR-222-3p was decreased in the response group, and had high accuracy in predicting the therapeutic efficiency of NSAIDs. The findings indicate that increased miR-222-3p in AS patients may function as a diagnostic biomarker for AS, and predictive biomarker for the therapeutic efficacy of NSAIDs in patients with AS. In addition, miR-222-3p is associated with AS disease activity.

Automated summary

This study found that the expression level of miR-222-3p is increased in AS patients, and miR-222-3p can serve as a biomarker for diagnosing AS and predicting the therapeutic efficacy of NSAIDs.