Circulating miR‐222‐3p is associated with ankylosing spondylitis development and predicts therapeutic efficacy of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs

Abstract

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic rheumatic disease, and some microRNAs (miRNAs) in AS have been identified. This study aimed to measure miR‐222‐3p expression in AS patients, investigate the association of miR‐222‐3p with AS disease activity, and explore the clinical value of miR‐222‐3p in diagnosing AS and predicting therapeutic efficacy of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on AS patients. This study included 96 patients with AS, 58 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 90 healthy controls. miR‐222‐3p expression was detected by reverse‐transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The ability of miR‐222‐3p to discriminate between different groups was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis. The predictive value of miR‐222‐3p on the efficacy of NSAID treatment for AS was assessed by logistic regression analysis. AS patients treated with oral NSAIDs diclofenac sodium were divided into response (n = 76) and no‐response (n = 20) groups after 16 weeks of treatment. miR‐222‐3p in AS patients was higher than that in healthy subjects and RA patients. miR‐222‐3p had high diagnostic value in distinguishing patients with AS from RA patients and healthy controls. miR‐222‐3p, increased in active AS patients, had the ability to screen active AS patients from inactive AS patients. miR‐222‐3p was decreased in the response group, and had high accuracy in predicting the therapeutic efficiency of NSAIDs. The findings indicate that increased miR‐222‐3p in AS patients may function as a diagnostic biomarker for AS, and predictive biomarker for the therapeutic efficacy of NSAIDs in patients with AS. In addition, miR‐222‐3p is associated with AS disease activity.