Abstract:

Objective To investigate the relationship between DKK⁃1 gene promoter methylation and path⁃ ological osteogenesis in Ankylosing Spondylitis（AS）. Methods Western Blot was used to detect the expression of DKK⁃1 protein in hip joint capsule tissue from 4 patients with AS and 4 with femoral neck fracture（FNF）caused by trauma in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University. DKK ⁃ 1 gene promoter methylation was examined by Methylation ⁃ specific PCR（MSP）. Meanwhile，DNA methyltransferases（DNMTs）were evaluated by Quantitative Real ⁃time polymerase chain reaction（qPCR）. Results The expression of DKK ⁃1 protein in AS hip joint capsule tissue was significantly lower than that in FNF group（P < 0.05），while the methylation status of DKK⁃1 gene promoter was significantly higher（P < 0.05）. And there was no significant difference about DNMTs between two groups. Conclusion Lower DKK⁃1 promotes the pathological osteogenesis of AS through DKK⁃1 gene promoter hypermethylation，which can be used to evaluate the development of AS pathological osteogenesis and provide clues for the treatment of AS.

Key words:

ankylosing spondylitis, DKK?1, DNA methylation, DNA methyltransferase ,