title: [Molecular and genetic aspects of idiopathic scoliosis. Blood test for idiopathic scoliosis].
abstract: Spinal deformities, and particularly scoliosis, are the most frequent forms of orthopedic deformities in children and adolescents. About 1-6% of the population has scoliosis. This disorder leads to severe spinal deformities and predominantly affects adolescent girls.Although the multifactorial origin of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is broadly recognized, the genetic causes of AIS are still largely unknown. Our previous studies suggested a generalized dysfunction of melatonin transduction (the hormone that is primarily produced in the brain and epiphysis). In the meantime we have demonstrated that such a defect of signal transduction is caused by chemical alterations, which inactivate the function of the inhibitory G protein-coupled melatonin receptors. This discovery has led to the development of the first blood test to detect children without symptoms who are at risk of developing scoliosis. Since a single function (cellular reaction to melatonin) is determined, the unique advantage of this test is that it can be performed without knowledge of mutations in defective genes that could provoke the onset of AIS.
authors.affiliation: Viscogliosi Laboratory in Molecular Genetics of Musculoskeletal Diseases, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Université de Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada. alain.moreau@recherche-ste-justine.qc.ca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.forename: M-Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Akoumé Ndong
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Azeddine
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Rompré
authors.forename: M-H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Roy-Gagnon
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Turgeon
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Bagnall
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Poitras
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Labelle
authors.forename: C-H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Rivard
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grimard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ouellet
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parent
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moldovan
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood*; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008550:Melatonin