title: Low expression of microRNA-143 is related to degenerative scoliosis possibly by regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study is to determine if expression level of microRNA-143 (miR-143) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) are related to the occurrence and development of degenerative scoliosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 patients with degenerative scoliosis, 30 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were enrolled in this study. For control, 30 patients with spinal burst fractures were also enrolled in this study. Real-time PCR and western blotting was performed to measure the expression levels of COX-2 in intervertebral disc tissues, peripheral blood and cerebrospinal. Expression levels of miR-143 in intervertebral disc tissues, peripheral blood and cerebrospinal were detected by real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression levels of COX-2 were increased in intervertebral disc tissues, peripheral blood and cerebrospinal of patients with degenerative scoliosis when compared with those of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and spinal burst fractures (P < 0.05). However, the expression levels of miR-143 were decreased in intervertebral disc tissues, peripheral blood and cerebrospinal of patients with degenerative scoliosis when compared with those of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and spinal burst fractures (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COX-2 is highly expressed whereas miR-143 is lowly expressed in patients with degenerative scoliosis. Decreased expression of miR-143 may be related to the aggravation of degenerative scoliosis by regulation of COX-2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, 117 Hospital of People's Liberation Army Hangzhou 310013, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, 117 Hospital of People's Liberation Army Hangzhou 310013, China.
authors.forename: Yonghong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, 117 Hospital of People's Liberation Army Hangzhou 310013, China.
authors.forename: Kefeng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, 117 Hospital of People's Liberation Army Hangzhou 310013, China.
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: Degenerative scoliosis; cyclooxygenase-2; intervertebral disc tissues; microRNA-143