Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an immune-mediated disease with an unknown etiology, posing challenges in effective treatment. This study aims to investigate the underlying mechanisms and explore the potential of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a treatment avenue. Employing a multiomics analysis and leveraging public databases, we scrutinized AS immune cell subpopulations and associated genes. Gene regulatory mechanisms were dissected, and molecular docking was performed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of TCM. Our findings revealed a significant elevation in effector CD8+ memory T (Tem) cells in AS. Notably, the expression of STAT4 in this cell subpopulation was observed to be down-regulated. This down-regulation might be influenced by multiple circRNAs and miR-574-5p. Intriguingly, components derived from guava leaves exhibited a stable binding affinity to STAT4. Immunohistochemistry and qPCR results confirmed low expression of STAT4 in paraspinal ligament muscle tissue. This comprehensive multiomics analysis sheds light on potential underlying mechanisms of AS and underscores the prospect of traditional Chinese medicine as a viable therapeutic option. The study provides valuable insights for future research endeavors.
Chen et al. (Wed,) studied this question.