An observational study in Ankylosing Spondylitis and Psoriasis, sponsored by Assiut University. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-21.
Sponsored by Assiut University · Observational
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are chronic inflammatory diseases within the spectrum of spondyloarthritis, characterized by immune-mediated inflammation and progressive functional impairment. Meteorin-like protein (Metrnl) is a novel adipomyokine with potential immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties; however, its role in spondyloarthritis remains incompletely understood. This study aims to evaluate serum Metrnl levels in patients with PsA and AS compared with healthy controls and to investigate their association with disease activity, inflammatory markers, and clinical manifestations. The findings may provide insights into the potential role of Metrnl as a biomarker of disease activity and inflammation in spondyloarthritis.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are chronic inflammatory disorders within the spectrum of spondyloarthritis, characterized by immune-mediated involvement of the axial skeleton, peripheral joints, and entheses. Despite advances in understanding their pathogenesis, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying disease activity and progression remain incompletely defined, highlighting the need for novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Cytokines play a central role in the pathophysiology of spondyloarthritis by regulating inflammatory pathways and immune responses. Recently, attention has shifted toward newly identified cytokine-like proteins with immunometabolic functions, including meteorin-like protein (Metrnl), also referred to as interleukin-41. Metrnl is an adipomyokine expressed in various tissues, including skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, and is involved in immune regulation and inflammatory processes.
Emerging evidence suggests that Metrnl exerts dual immunomodulatory effects, contributing to both pro- and anti-inflammatory pathways depending on the disease context. It has been shown to influence macrophage activation and cytokine production, thereby playing a role in immune homeostasis (5,6). In addition, recent studies have demonstrated a potential association between circulating Metrnl levels and disease activity in inflammatory conditions, including ankylosing spondylitis.
However, data regarding the role of Metrnl in psoriatic arthritis are scarce, and comparative studies between AS and PsA are lacking. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate serum Metrnl levels in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis and to investigate their association with disease activity and inflammatory markers.
531 studies on the registry are indexed under Spondylitis, Ankylosing; 98 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 90 is below the median of 202 across 214 observational studies indexed under Spondylitis, Ankylosing.
Browse Spondylitis, Ankylosing studies →Assiut University is the lead sponsor of 5,078 studies on the registry; 2,178 are open to participants now.
Of its 14 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 0 (0%) have results posted.
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AS diagnosed according to the modified New York criteria, while PsA diagnosed based on the CASPAR criteria,
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
AS diagnosed according to the modified New York criteria, while PsA was diagnosed based on the CASPAR criteria.
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients under the age of 18 years, patients with other diseases, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney or liver disease, active infection, or were excluded to avoid confounding factors affecting inflammatory markers.
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Autoimmune disease
A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Diagnostic Test: IL 41
AS diagnosed according to the modified New York criteria
Diagnostic Test: IL 41
apparentely healthy controls
Diagnostic Test: IL 41
Serum levels of meteorin-like protein (Metrnl) will be measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Serum IL41 differences among AS, PsA, and controls
Time frame: 1month
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: No
Start is estimated for Oct 2026; primary completion for Nov 2026, 1 month later.
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This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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