Frontiers in Immunology (Jan 2019)

RUNX3 and T-Bet in Immunopathogenesis of Ankylosing Spondylitis—Novel Targets for Therapy?

  • Matteo Vecellio,
  • Matteo Vecellio,
  • Matteo Vecellio,
  • Carla J. Cohen,
  • Carla J. Cohen,
  • Carla J. Cohen,
  • Amity R. Roberts,
  • Paul B. Wordsworth,
  • Paul B. Wordsworth,
  • Paul B. Wordsworth,
  • Tony J. Kenna,
  • Tony J. Kenna

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2018.03132
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

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Susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is polygenic with more than 100 genes identified to date. These include HLA-B27 and the aminopeptidases (ERAP1, ERAP2, and LNPEPS), which are involved in antigen processing and presentation to T-cells, and several genes (IL23R, IL6R, STAT3, JAK2, IL1R1/2, IL12B, and IL7R) involved in IL23 driven pathways of inflammation. AS is also strongly associated with polymorphisms in two transcription factors, RUNX3 and T-bet (encoded by TBX21), which are important in T-cell development and function. The influence of these genes on the pathogenesis of AS and their potential for identifying drug targets is discussed here.

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