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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >

2026 , Vol. 46 >Issue 1: 183 - 194

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.01.017

Original Articles

Multi-omics-based study on the biological characteristics of kidney renal deficiency and blood stasis in ankylosing spondylitis

  • Yifan GONG ,
  • Xiaohan XU ,
  • Jie MA ,
  • Bo PANG ,
  • Wanlin LIU ,
  • Hongxiao LIU
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  • 1 Department of Rheumatology, Guang 'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
    2 Department of Rheumatology, Guang'anmen Hospital Jinan, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Jinan 250012, China
    3 Department of Clinical Laboratory, Guang 'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
    4 Beijing Proteomics Research Center, Beijing 100094, China
GONG Yifan and XU Xiaohan are co-first authors and contributed equally to this work

Received date: 2024-12-12

  Accepted date: 2025-03-07

  Online published: 2026-01-28

Supported by

National Natural Science Foundation of China: to Explore the Molecular Mechanism of Treating Ankylosing Spondylitis by Invigorating Kidney and Activating Blood from the Regulation of T helper 17 Cells Differentiation and Migration by Histone Histone H3 Lysine 27 Trimethylation(81873292);Science and Technology Innovation Project of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences: Evaluation of Curative Effect and Molecular Mechanism of Shenqiangji Decoction in the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis by Standard Control and Intervention in the Imaging Progress of Spinal Spondylitis(CI2021A01506);High Level Chinese Medical Hospital Promotion Project: Research and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparation for Treating Ankylosing Spondylitis with Danxian Bushen Qiangji Granules(HLCMHPP2023049)

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Abstract

OBJECIVE: To explore the objective biological evidence for the classification and diagnosis of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndromes in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) using multiomics analysis.

METHODS: Patients with AS were categorized into kidney deficiency and blood stasis syndrome (SX group) and damp-heat stasis syndrome (SR group). Transcriptomic sequencing and quantitative plasma proteomics were performed on patients with AS and healthy volunteers. Multiomics integration was used to characterize the biological basis of AS with renal deficiency and blood stasis syndrome. Specific proteins were validated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS: Transcriptomic sequencing identified 31 significantly upregulated genes in patients with AS compared to healthy controls. These genes were primarily involved in tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-17, and nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathways, as well as osteoblast differentiation and various viral infection pathways. Differentially expressed genes, including intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1), 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A, interleukin 1 receptor antagonist, integrin alpha IIb, and myosin light chain 9 were more upregulated in the SX group than in the SR group. Quantitative proteomics identified 723 differential proteins associated with the disease and 788 differential proteins between the SX and SR groups. Notable proteins such as myeloperoxidase, cluster of differentiation 14, macrophage simulating 1 (MST1), and Ras homolog enriched in brain may serve as characteristic proteins of the SX group. By integrating transcriptomic and proteomic data, 45 associated differential molecules involved in platelet activation, pathogenic intestinal flora infection, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and T-cell receptor signaling pathways were identified in patients with AS compared to healthy controls. Additionally, ICAM1, MST1, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8), suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP1) were detected in TCM syndromes by RT-qPCR and ELISA, showing upregulation in AS renal deficiency and blood stasis syndromes, which is consistent with the proteomic and transcriptomic results.

CONCLUSIONS: ICAM1, MST1, CXCL8, SOCS3, and IGFBP1 were identified as biomarkers of renal deficiency and blood stasis syndrome in AS. This study provides a biological basis for the differential diagnosis of TCM syndromes in AS, offering new insights into Chinese medicine evidence and more precise Chinese medicine treatments for AS.

Key words： ankylosing spondylitis; medicine,Chinese traditional; kidney deficiency and blood stasis syndrome; biological features; proteomics; transcriptomics

Cite this article

Yifan GONG , Xiaohan XU , Jie MA , Bo PANG , Wanlin LIU , Hongxiao LIU . Multi-omics-based study on the biological characteristics of kidney renal deficiency and blood stasis in ankylosing spondylitis[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2026 , 46(1) : 183 -194 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.01.017

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