Expression levels of miR-21, PDCD4 mRNA, and CTX of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and controls. Data are presented as median (Q1–Q3). RNU6B and GAPDH were used as the endogenous controls for miR-21 and PDCD4 mRNA, respectively.
| Variables | Patients with AS, n = 122 | Controls, n = 122 | pa | pb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| miR-21 (2–ΔΔCT) | 1.10 (0.27–3.29) | 0.19 (0.07–0.60) | < 0.001 | 0.012 |
| PDCD4 mRNA (2–ΔΔCT) | 2.76 (1.67–3.85) | 1.47 (1.00–2.25) | < 0.001 | 0.014 |
| CTX, ng/ml | 0.31 (0.14–0.55) | 0.19 (0.16–0.38) | 0.038 | 0.062 |
↵a Wilcoxon rank sum test was performed for comparison between patients with AS and controls.
↵b Robust regression was performed for comparison between patients with AS and controls after adjusting for the effect of leukocyte count. miR-21: microRNA-21; PDCD4: programmed cell death 4; CTX: collagen cross-linked C-telopeptide.