The present research aims to study the effects of
guluronic acid (
G2013) on gene expression levels of the T-bet, GATA3, RORγt, AHR, and FOXP3
transcription factors and on gene expression of their related
cytokines following
oral administration of this
drug in
ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. In this trial (clinical trial identifier: IRCT2016091813739N4), 14 AS patients and 12 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were enrolled. The level of
transcription factors' gene expression and expression of their related
cytokines were measured by quantitative real-time PCR, before and 3 months after
G2013 therapy. Our data indicated that the gene expression levels of the T-bet and IFN-γ were not significantly reduced during 12 weeks of treatment with
G2013 (p > 0.05). The findings showed that the gene expression levels of the GATA3 and
IL-4 increased significantly during 12 weeks of treatment with
G2013 (p < 0.05). In addition, gene expression levels of the RORγt,
IL-17, AHR, and
IL-22 decreased significantly during the 12-week treatment with
G2013 (p < 0.05). Moreover, the gene expression level of the FOXP3 increased significantly during 12 weeks of treatment with
G2013, but the gene expression level of
IL-10 did not increase significantly (p < 0.05, p > 0.05, respectively). The present study showed that oral intake of
G2013 was able to modify the severity of articular and inflammatory symptoms of AS through reducing the gene expression levels of the RORγt,
IL-17, AHR, and
IL-22 and increasing the gene expression levels of the GATA3,
IL-4, and FOXP3.