Metabolomic profiling in ankylosing spondylitis using time-of-flight mass spectrometry

BACKGROUND & AIMSAnkylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory disease associated with destructive changes in the skeleton and joints. The exact molecular mechanism of the disease has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to determine metabolic differences between active AS patients and healthy controls to understand the molecular mechanism of AS. PATIENTS AND METHODSThe study included 38 subjects, comprising 18 patients with active AS and 20 healthy controls. Metabolic profiling of the plasma was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC Q-TOF/MS). Data acquisition, classification, and identification were achieved with the METLIN (https://metlin.scripps.edu/) database and XCMS (https://xcmsonline.scripps.edu). RESULTSSignificant alterations were identified in the unsaturated fatty acids (FA), linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, FA degradation, and FA biosynthesis pathways. Down -regulations were observed in phosphatidylcholine (PC) (16:0/0:0), beta-d-Fructose, stearic acid, trimipramine N-Oxide and muconic acid, and up-regulation were detected in PC (18:2/0:0), 3-Methylindole, palmitic acid (PA), alpha-Tocotrienol, and beta-d-glucopyranoside in active AS patients compared to the healthy control subjects. CONCLUSIONPathway analysis revealed that dysregulation in FA metabolism is associated with AS, and therefore, modulation of diet according to PA and PC may be potential therapeutic targets.