Correlation between serum semaphorin 3A and inflammatory disorder in ankylosing spondylitis: Potential function of immunoregulation

Objective: The objective of this study was to verify whether semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) participate in the immunoregulation of T helper 17 cells related inflammatory process and to identify novel serum markers in the immunoregulation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: A total of 59 untreated male AS patients and 61 age-matched male normal controls were recruited for the study. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. The venous blood of all participants was drawn from just above the elbow with patients' consent. Serum Sema3A, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-21 (IL-21) levels were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis in both AS patients and normal controls. The optical density was assessed at 450 nm using a microtiter plate reader. Then, the concentration of the target serum marker was measured on the constructed standard curve. Results: We found that serum levels of Sema3A, TNF-α, and IL-21 were all higher in AS patients than normal control (47.5 ± 5.3 vs. 40.2 ± 4.0, 182.6 ± 38.1 vs. 47.5 ± 7.7, 190.3 ± 29.8 vs. 93.3 ± 21.0, P < 0.01). Serum level Sema3A was demonstrated to be statistically significantly positive correlated with both TNF-α and IL-21. Serum levels of Sema3A, TNF-α, and IL-21 were all higher in AS patients than normal control. Conclusion: Sema3A was a potential novel putative factor in the immunoregulation of inflammatory response in AS.