[Comparison of melatonin receptor mRNA expression in bilateral paravertebral muscles in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis].
OBJECTIVE
To study the change of melatonin receptor mRNA expression in paravertebral muscles in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), and analyze its relationship with the etiology of AIS.


METHODS
Twenty cases with average age of (15.1 +/- 2.2) years and average Cobb angle of 56 degrees +/- 16 degrees , including 10 cases with Cobb angle > 50 degrees and 10 cases with Cobb angle <or= 50 degrees , were in AIS group. The apical vertebrae were from T(6 - 11). Twelve cases with average age of (11.6 +/- 3.2) years and average Cobb angle of 59 degrees +/- 33 degrees were in congenital scoliosis (CS) group. The apical vertebrae were from T(7 - 12). Ten cases without scoliosis were in control group. The mRNA expression of melatonin receptor subtype MT1 and MT2 were detected by RT-PCR method.


RESULTS
The MT2 mRNA expression of paravertebral muscles on concave side was higher than that on convex side in AIS and CS groups (P < 0.05), but the MT1 mRNA expression showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). In AIS group, the ratio of MT2 mRNA expression on concave side compared with convex side in cases with Cobb angle > 50 degrees and cases with Cobb angle <or= 50 degrees showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). The MT1 and MT2 mRNA expression showed no significant difference in control group (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The melatonin receptor expression in bilateral paravertebral muscles in AIS is asymmetric, which may be a secondary change and has no important role in the pathogenesis of AIS.
Qiu
Yong
Y
Spine Service, Gulou Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China. scoliosis2002@sina.com
Wu
Liang
L
Wang
Bin
B
Yu
Yang
Y
Zhu
Ze-zhang
ZZ
Qian
Bang-ping
BP
Ma
Wei-wei
WW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin