Predictive values of circulating miR-146a and miR-155 for disease activity and clinical response to TNF-α blocking therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Abstract

Objective: Ankylosing spondylitis is an insidiously progressive and debilitating form of arthritis involving the axial skeleton. MicroRNAs have been reported to act as candidate biomarkers for ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis and progression. The study aimed to assess the roles of circulating miR-146a and miR-155 in ankylosing spondylitis and their prediction to clinical response to TNF-α blocking therapy. Methods: The study included 62 ankylosing spondylitis patients who were given originator TNFi with a 6-month period. Responders to anti-TNF treatment were defined as those reaching the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society 40 (ASAS40) response at the 6-month interval, and nonresponders were defined those not (n = 24). Results: The ankylosing spondylitis patients at M0 (before beginning TNFi treatment) had higher serum levels of miR-146a and miR-155 than the healthy controls (p