RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Involvement of Mucosal-associated Invariant T cells in Ankylosing Spondylitis
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 1695
OP 1703
DO 10.3899/jrheum.151133
VO 43
IS 9
A1 Eri Hayashi
A1 Asako Chiba
A1 Kurisu Tada
A1 Keiichi Haga
A1 Mie Kitagaichi
A1 Shihoko Nakajima
A1 Makio Kusaoi
A1 Fumio Sekiya
A1 Michihiro Ogasawara
A1 Ken Yamaji
A1 Naoto Tamura
A1 Yoshinari Takasaki
A1 Sachiko Miyake
YR 2016
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/43/9/1695.abstract
AB Objective. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the axial and peripheral joints and ligamentous attachments. Gut immunity is thought to be involved in AS, because a prominent coexistence of gut and joint inflammation has been observed in patients with AS. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are preferentially located in the gut lamina propria and produce inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 17 (IL-17) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), which are therapeutic targets for AS. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of MAIT cells in AS.Methods. The frequency of MAIT cells and their cytokine production were determined in patients with AS and healthy controls (HC). The expression of a MAIT cell activation marker (CD69) was analyzed in patients with AS by using flow cytometry.Results. The frequency of MAIT cells in the peripheral blood was lower in patients with AS compared with HC. The levels of IL-17 produced by MAIT cells after activation were higher in patients with AS than in the HC. CD69 expression on MAIT cells correlated with the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score in patients with AS.Conclusion. These results suggest the involvement of MAIT cells in the pathogenesis of AS.