Adolescent Idiopathic Spinal Scoliosis Vertebral Body Cartilage Endplate

Background. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a complex three-dimensional (3D) anomaly of the spine involving lateral deviations in the frontal plane, modifications of the sagittal profile, spinal torsion and transverse plane deformations. Although the longitudinal growth of vertebral body occurs primarily through the endplate, little consideration has been given to the study of cartilage endplate tissues in scoliosis. Changes in the endplate composition and function have been implicated as possible etiologic factors in the pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Cytokines have exclusive effects on cartilage, can promote proliferation and differentiation of cartilage cell, also regulate matrix anabolism and catabolism. Thus evaluation of the wedging changes of vertebral bodies and intervertebral disks in various stages, and comparison of the expression of the cytokines and matrix on the convex and concave sides of scoliotic endplate tissues may help to understand the role of endplate tissues in the induction and/or progression of idiopathic scoliosis.Study Design. Firstly, we observed the wedging changes of vertebral bodies and intervertebral disks from radiography before conservative treatment with braces and before operation.Then we compared the expression of cytokines and core protein of proteoglycan in the scoliotic concave and convex cartilaginous endplate using immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR methods.Objectives. To define the effect of veretebral endplate in the wedging changes of vertebral bodiess, and the possible role of the transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1), the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and core protein of proteoglycan in the development of AIS.Methods. We observed the wedging changes of vertebral bodies and intervertebral disks of 37 cases before conservative treatment with braces and before operation by radiographic evaluation. The convex and concave half of cartilage endplate was collected at the apex and end vertebrae from 12...