cDNA芯片技术在强直性脊柱炎研究中的初步应用

目的 了解强直性脊柱炎（AS）病人外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）基因表达谱与类风湿关节炎（RA）及健康志愿者有无差异，寻找疾病发生及炎症相关的异常变化基因，初步探讨其变化意义。方法 以含588个基因的cDNA微阵列检测7例活动期AS、6例活动期RA病人以及7位正常对照者PBMC基因表达谱，并挑选至少有4例关节炎病人表达增多的13个炎症反应相关的细胞因子，扩大研究病例数以半定量逆转录聚合酶链（RT－PCR）方法验证其表达水平。结果 cDNA微阵列检测结果显示，AS和RA病人基因表达谱明显异常。在正常对照组、AS和RA病人的异常高表达的基因表达率分别为8．4％、32．5％和44．8％，两组关节炎病人与正常对照者比较P均＜0．001；而且RA组异常表达率又明显多于AS组（P＜0．012），2例活动性肺结核病人也有类似的高表达。以RT－PCR法验证的13个基因的表达水平，发现22例AS，8例RA病人基因表达结果与cDNA微阵列检测结果一致。结论 AS病人PBMC基因表达谱明显异常，与RA病人也明显不同，13个细胞因子的高表达对AS无特异性。

Analysis of inflammation related gene expression specteum in ankylosing spondylitis patients using cDNAmicroarray

Objective To test the difference of gene expression patterns in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) among patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy volunteers and to find potential discriminating genes. Methods The PBMC gene expression spectra of 7 patients with active AS, 6 patients with active RA, and 7 healthy volunteers were tested by microarray assay with 588 target gene filters. Semi quantitative RT PCR was performed to test the expression rates of thirteen inflammation related genes which had been with high expression rates in at least 4 arthritis patients by microarray assay, among 22 AS patients,8 RA patients, and 7 healthy volunteers. Results The expression rates of inflammation related genes by cDNA microarray assay in healthy volunteer group, AS group, and RA group were 8.4%, 32.5% and 44.8% respectively ( P <0.001). The positive rate in RA patients was much higher than that in AS patients( P <0 012). A significant increase of positive rate of these genes was also noticed in 2 active pulmonary tuberculosis patients. The expression rates of the 13 genes which were positive in at least 4 arthritis patients tested by semiquantitative RT PCR in 22 AS patients,8 RA patients and 7 healthy volunteers were very similar to those expression rates tested by cDNA microarray. Conclusion The gene expression profiles of PBMC among AS patients are significantly abnormal and are significantly different from those among RA patients. The high expression of the 13 cytokines is not specific to AS.