Clinical and pathogenetic significance of the phenomenon of functional heterogeneity of oxygen-dependent functions of neutrophils in ankylosing spondylitis

Neutrophils are able to exert a variety of effects on other cells of the immune system, which indicates their heterogeneity. In various rheumatic diseases, neutrophils are involved in the immunopathological process. The study of the phenomenon of functional heterogeneity of neutrophils associated with the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases is a promising area of research in immunology and rheumatology. The purpose of the research: study of factors influencing oxygen-dependent neutrophil functions in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). A total of 82 patients with AS were examined. The functional activity of neutrophils was assessed according to the data of determining the indicators of oxygen-dependent functions by the chemiluminescence method. Functional neutrophil reserve (FNR) was assessed by activation coefficients (the ratio of chemiluminescence induced by suspension of heat-killed staphylococcus cells to spontaneous value). Statistical data processing was carried out using Statistica 10.0 program.

An increase in oxygen-dependent neutrophil functions in AS was accompanied by an increase in disease activity. The greatest influence on the increase in the functional activity of cells was exerted by the age of patients, the stage of the disease and the level of circulating immune complexes. The process of stabilizing the metabolic activity of neutrophils was significantly influenced by the age of patients, ESR, ã-globulins, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Among the laboratory parameters, the majority of AS patients with moderate and high FNR had elevated levels of ESR, CRP, and IgM; there was a tendency to increase IgA in AS patients with high FNR. Statistical analyses showed an association between FNR and disease activity; there was no statistically significant dependence of FNR on the stage, course, and form of AS. The study of the metabolic activity of neutrophils during dynamic observation revealed a group of patients with stabilization of FNR parameters against the background of therapy with the achievement of a normal level of oxygen-dependent metabolism. Thus, in ankylosing spondylitis, the functional heterogeneity of neutrophils associated with disease activity was established according to the determination of oxygen-dependent metabolism.