Relationship between serum tenascin C and vimentin levels and disease activity, enthesis score and spinal mobility in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

This study aimed to determine serum levels of tenascin-C and vimentin in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and to evaluate their relationship with disease activity and inflammation parameters. A total of 90 AS patients and 90 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Serum samples were collected from all participants, and tenascin-C and vimentin levels were measured using the ELISA method. Disease activity in AS patients was assessed using ASDAS-CRP and BASDAI scores. Statistical analyses included group comparisons and correlation analyses between biomarkers and clinical parameters. Serum vimentin levels were significantly higher in the AS group (80.41 ± 33.55 ng/mL) compared to the control group (28.97 ± 18.89 ng/mL) (p<0.001). Similarly, tenascin-C levels were significantly elevated in AS patients (3.99 ± 1.45 ng/mL) versus controls (1.50 ± 0.62 ng/mL) (p<0.001). No significant correlation was found between vimentin levels and disease activity or inflammation markers. However, tenascin-C levels showed a significant negative correlation with CRP (r: –0.323; p= 0.002) and ASDAS-CRP (r: –0.280; p = 0.007). Serum tenascin-C and vimentin levels are significantly increased in AS patients. While elevated vimentin levels may be related to tissue damage rather than systemic inflammation, tenascin-C appears to reflect a response associated with tissue remodeling or modulation of inflammation. Significant elevations in tenascin-C and vimentin levels in AS patients indicate that these markers may potentially contribute to diagnosis, disease activity, and prognosis prediction.