Expressions of CD147 in peripheral monocytes and T lymphocytes of patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Objective To investigate the roles of CD147 in the pathogenesis and development of ankylosing spondylitis(AS). Methods Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression levels of CD147 in peripheral monocytes and T lymphocytes of 30 AS patients, 30 rheumatoid arthritis(RA)patients and 30 healthy controls(HC). reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)was used to evaluate the expression levels of CD147 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC). Then the expression levels of CD147 were compared among the groups. And a correlation analysis was conducted between CD147 levels and disease activity indices of AS patients. Results The mean fluorescence intensities of CD147 in monocytes of AS, RA and HC group were 213.5 ± 37.8, 228.7 ±49.7 and 163.6 ±44.8, and in T lymphocytes 36. 8 ± 10. 1, 40. 2 ± 10. 5 and 28. 3 ± 10. 6 respectively. Both the expression levels of CD147 in monocytes and T lymphocytes of AS patients were slightly lower than those of RA patients. But the differences was not statistically significant(P ＞ 0. 05). Both the CD147 levels in monocytes and T lymphocytes of AS and RA group were significantly higher than those of HC group(P ＜ 0. 05). The expression levels of CD147 mRNA in PBMC of AS and RA group were significantly higher than those of HC group(P ＜ 0. 05)while no significant difference was found between AS and RA group(P ＞ 0. 05). Both the expression levels of CD147 in monocytes and T lymphocytes of AS patients were positively correlated with the patients' erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)and C-reactive protein(CRP). Conclusion The expressions of CD147 in peripheral monocytes and T lymphocytes of AS patients are up-regulated and their levels are positively correlated with patients' ESR and CRP. It implies that CD147 plays critical roles in the pathogenesis and development of AS. Key words: CD147 antigen;  Monocytes;  T-lymphocytes;  Spondylitis, ankylosing