Serum levels of Dickkopf-1, sclerostin and vascular endothelial growth factor A and their correlation with ankylosing spondylitis progression

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2017.32.001

Abstract

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The incidence of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) presents a trend of rising year by year, accompanied by a higher disability. Therefore, fully understanding the related factors to the development of AS is of great significance to develop a rational treatment scheme.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expression levels of Dickkopf-1 and sclerostin in Wnt signaling pathway as well as vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) in the AS patients, and to evaluate their correlation with AS progression.
METHODS: AS patients and healthy volunteers were recruited, and their baseline data and medical history were collected. The expression levels of Dickkopf-1, sclerostin, VEGF-A and C-reactive protein in the peripheral blood were detected; the AS progression was evaluated by Bath AS Disease Activity Index and Bath AS Functional Index; the imaging performance was assessed by modified Stroke AS Spine Score; the correlation of Dickkopf-1, sclerostin and VEGF-A with AS progression, imaging performance and inflammatory reaction was analyzed by Spearman's rank correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: No significant differences were found in the expression levels of Dickkopf-1, sclerostin and VEGF-A between two groups (P > 0.05). The AS patients without syndesmophyte and with higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level appeared with an significant increase in the Dickkopf-1 level (P < 0.05), which was significantly related to sclerostin level (r=0.592, P=0.000). The As patients with the history of smoking, increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein, as well as higher Bath AS Disease Activity Index and Bath AS Functional Index presented with a higher level of VEGF-A. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, syndesmophyte and sclerostin level were the independent factors affecting the Dickkopf-1 level (P ≤ 0.001); the history of smoking, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein were the independent factors affecting VEGF-A (P < 0.005). These results suggest that in AS patients, the Dickkopf-1 level is related to syndesmophyte and systemic inflammatory response, while the history of smoking affects VEGF-A level. Therefore, all above indicators can be used to evaluate osteophyte formation and bone mass loss.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：组织构建；骨细胞；软骨细胞；细胞培养；成纤维细胞；血管内皮细胞；骨质疏松；组织工程

Key words: Spondylitis, Ankylosing, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A, Tissue Engineering

CLC Number:

R318

Lu Zhong-lin, Guan Zhong. Serum levels of Dickkopf-1, sclerostin and vascular endothelial growth factor A and their correlation with ankylosing spondylitis progression[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2017, 21(32): 5085-5090.

Figures/Tables 3

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