Integral Single-cell Landscape of Immunological Hallmarks for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Three HLA-B27-positive health donors (HDs) with matching age were enrolled via genetic screening, and fourteen AS patients were recruited at Fujian provincial hospital from May to July 2021. All AS patients satisfied the modified New York (NY) criteria, and the categorization of three disease groups (EA, LD and RM) was according to clinical hallmarks and imaging evidences. The five patients in the EA group were in the early stage of disease, showing obvious symptoms, and had not yet received standard treatments, including various NSAIDs and DMARDs. The five patients in the LD group were all disabled, and confirmed by radiographic evidence of structural damage in hip joints and spinal deformity. The four patients in the RM group received standardized treatment under the guidance of specialist doctors, and maintained clinical remission and normal laboratory indicators for over six months. Patients in both EA and RM groups were confirmed to have no structural damage or deformities by radiographic evidences.