Identification of a susceptibility locus for severe adolescent idiopathic scoliosis on chromosome 17q24.3

Deletion of Pax1 scoliosis-associated regulatory elements leads to a female-biased tail abnormality

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), a sideways curvature of the spine, is sexually dimorphic, with increased incidence in females. A genome-wide association study identified a female-specific AIS susceptibility locus near the PAX1 gene. Here, we use mouse enhancer assays, three mouse enhancer knockouts, and subsequent phenotypic analyses to characterize this region. Using mouse enhancer assays, we characterize a sequence, PEC7, which overlaps the AIS-associated variant, and find it to be active in the tail tip and intervertebral disc. Removal of PEC7 or Xe1, a known sclerotome enhancer nearby, or deletion of both sequences lead to a kinky tail phenotype only in the Xe1 and combined (Xe1+PEC7) knockouts, with only the latter showing a female sex dimorphic phenotype. Extensive phenotypic characterization of these mouse lines implicates several differentially expressed genes and estrogen signaling in the sex dimorphic bias. In summary, our work functionally characterizes an AIS-associated locus and dissects the mechanism for its sexual dimorphism.

SOX9 gene shows association with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis predisposition in Northwest Indians

BACKGROUND

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a common structural deformity of the spine affecting adolescent individuals globally. The disorder is polygenic and is accompanied by the association of various genetic loci. Genetic studies in Chinese and Japanese populations have shown the association of genetic variants of SOX9 with AIS curve severity. However, no genetic study evaluating the association of SRY-Box Transcription Factor 9 (SOX9) variants with AIS predisposition has been conducted in any Indian population. Thus, we aimed to investigate the association of the genetic variants of the SOX9 along with 0.88 Mb upstream region with AIS susceptibility in the population of Northwest India.

METHODS

In total, 113 AIS cases and 500 non-AIS controls were recruited from the population of Northwest India in the study and screened for 155 genetic variants across the SOX9 gene and 0.88 Mb upstream region of the gene using Global Screening Array-24 v3.0 chip (Illumina). The statistical significance of the Bonferroni threshold was set at 0.000322.

RESULT

The results showed the association of 11 newly identified variants; rs9302936, rs7210997, rs77736349, rs12940821, rs9302937, rs77447012, rs8071904, rs74898711, rs9900249, rs2430514, and rs1042667 with the AIS susceptibility in the studied population. Only one variant, rs2430514, was inversely associated with AIS in the population, while the ten variants were associated with the AIS risk. Moreover, 47 variants clustered in the gene desert region of the SOX9 gene were associated at a p-value ≤ 0.05.

CONCLUSION

The present study is the first to demonstrate the association of SOX9 enhancer locus variants with AIS in any South Asian Indian population. The results are interesting as rs1042667, a 3' untranslated region (UTR) variant in the exon 3 and upstream variants of the SOX9 gene, were associated with AIS susceptibility in the Northwest Indian population. This provides evidence that the variants in the enhancer region of SOX9 might regulate its gene expression, thus leading to AIS pathology and might act as an important gene for AIS susceptibility.

Association between genetic polymorphisms and risk of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in case-control studies: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a structural lateral spinal curvature of ≥10° with rotation. Approximately 2%-3% of children across populations are affected with AIS, and this condition is responsible for ~$3 billion in costs within the USA. Although AIS is believed to have a strong genetic contribution, clinical translation of identified genetic variants has stalled.

METHODS

The databases MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, Google Scholar and Ovid MEDLINE were searched and limited to articles in English. Title and abstract, full-text and data extraction screening was conducted through Covidence, followed by data transfer to a custom REDCap database. Studies containing variant-level data using genome-wide methodology as well as validation studies of genome-wide methods were considered. Quality assessment was conducted using Q-Genie.

RESULTS

33 studies were included, including 9 genome-wide association studies, 4 whole exome sequencing and 20 validation studies. Combined, these studies included data from >35,000 cases and >67,000 controls, not including validation cohorts. Additionally, results from six meta-analyses containing novel cohorts were also reported. All included study cohorts were from populations of primarily East Asian or Caucasian descent. Quality assessment found that overall study quality was high and control group selection was moderate. The highest number of reported associations were in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in or near LBX1, LBX1-AS1, GPR126/ADGRG6 or BNC2.

CONCLUSION

AIS risk may be influenced by specific SNPs, particularly those in/near LBX1 and GPR126. Translatability of study findings is unknown due to an underrepresentation of most ethnic groups as well as few identified genome-wide studies. Further studies may benefit from increased cohort diversity and thorough evaluation of control cohort groups.

Identification of ROCK1 as a novel biomarker for postmenopausal osteoporosis and pan-cancer analysis

BACKGROUND

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is a prevalent bone disorder with significant global impact. The elevated risk of osteoporotic fracture in elderly women poses a substantial burden on individuals and society. Unfortunately, the current lack of dependable diagnostic markers and precise therapeutic targets for PMOP remains a major challenge.

METHODS

PMOP-related datasets GSE7429, GSE56814, GSE56815, and GSE147287, were downloaded from the GEO database. The DEGs were identified by "limma" packages. WGCNA and Machine Learning were used to choose key module genes highly related to PMOP. GSEA, DO, GO, and KEGG enrichment analysis was performed on all DEGs and the selected key hub genes. The PPI network was constructed through the GeneMANIA database. ROC curves and AUC values validated the diagnostic values of the hub genes in both training and validation datasets. xCell immune infiltration and single-cell analysis identified the hub genes' function on immune reaction in PMOP. Pan-cancer analysis revealed the role of the hub genes in cancers.

RESULTS

A total of 1278 DEGs were identified between PMOP patients and the healthy controls. The purple module and cyan module were selected as the key modules and 112 common genes were selected after combining the DEGs and module genes. Five Machine Learning algorithms screened three hub genes (KCNJ2, HIPK1, and ROCK1), and a PPI network was constructed for the hub genes. ROC curves validate the diagnostic values of ROCK1 in both the training (AUC = 0.73) and validation datasets of PMOP (AUC = 0.81). GSEA was performed for the low-ROCK1 patients, and the top enriched field included protein binding and immune reaction. DCs and NKT cells were highly expressed in PMOP. Pan-cancer analysis showed a correlation between low ROCK1 expression and SKCM as well as renal tumors (KIRP, KICH, and KIRC).

CONCLUSIONS

ROCK1 was significantly associated with the pathogenesis and immune infiltration of PMOP, and influenced cancer development, progression, and prognosis, which provided a potential therapy target for PMOP and tumors. However, further laboratory and clinical evidence is required before the clinical application of ROCK1 as a therapeutic target.

Variants in the SOX9 transactivation middle domain induce axial skeleton dysplasia and scoliosis

SOX9 is an essential transcriptional regulator of cartilage development and homeostasis. In humans, dysregulation of SOX9 is associated with a wide spectrum of skeletal disorders, including campomelic and acampomelic dysplasia, and scoliosis. The mechanism of how SOX9 variants contribute to the spectrum of axial skeletal disorders is not well understood. Here, we report four novel pathogenic variants of SOX9 identified in a large cohort of patients with congenital vertebral malformations. Three of these heterozygous variants are in the HMG and DIM domains, and for the first time, we report a pathogenic variant within the transactivation middle (TAM) domain of SOX9 . Probands with these variants exhibit variable skeletal dysplasia, ranging from isolated vertebral malformation to acampomelic dysplasia. We also generated a Sox9 hypomorphic mutant mouse model bearing a microdeletion within the TAM domain ( Sox9 ^Asp272del ). We demonstrated that disturbance of the TAM domain with missense mutation or microdeletion results in reduced protein stability but does not affect the transcriptional activity of SOX9. Homozygous Sox9 ^Asp272del mice exhibited axial skeletal dysplasia including kinked tails, ribcage anomalies, and scoliosis, recapitulating phenotypes observed in human, while heterozygous mutants display a milder phenotype. Analysis of primary chondrocytes and the intervertebral discs in Sox9 ^Asp272del mutant mice revealed dysregulation of a panel of genes with major contributions of the extracellular matrix, angiogenesis, and ossification-related processes. In summary, our work identified the first pathologic variant of SOX9 within the TAM domain and demonstrated that this variant is associated with reduced SOX9 protein stability. Our finding suggests that reduced SOX9 stability caused by variants in the TAM domain may be responsible for the milder forms of axial skeleton dysplasia in humans.

Deletion of Pax1 scoliosis-associated regulatory elements leads to a female-biased tail abnormality

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), a sideways curvature of the spine, is sexually dimorphic, with increased incidence in females. A GWAS identified a female-specific AIS susceptibility locus near the PAX1 gene. Here, we used mouse enhancer assays, three mouse enhancer knockouts and subsequent phenotypic analyses to characterize this region. Using mouse enhancer assays, we characterized a sequence, PEC7, that overlaps the AIS-associated variant, and found it to be active in the tail tip and intervertebral disc. Removal of PEC7 or Xe1, a known sclerotome enhancer nearby, and deletion of both sequences led to a kinky phenotype only in the Xe1 and combined (Xe1+PEC7) knockouts, with only the latter showing a female sex dimorphic phenotype. Extensive phenotypic characterization of these mouse lines implicated several differentially expressed genes and estrogen signaling in the sex dimorphic bias. In summary, our work functionally characterizes an AIS-associated locus and dissects the mechanism for its sexual dimorphism.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis : a review of aetiological theories of a multifactorial disease

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), defined by an age at presentation of 11 to 18 years, has a prevalence of 0.47% and accounts for approximately 90% of all cases of idiopathic scoliosis. Despite decades of research, the exact aetiology of AIS remains unknown. It is becoming evident that it is the result of a complex interplay of genetic, internal, and environmental factors. It has been hypothesized that genetic variants act as the initial trigger that allow epigenetic factors to propagate AIS, which could also explain the wide phenotypic variation in the presentation of the disorder. A better understanding of the underlying aetiological mechanisms could help to establish the diagnosis earlier and allow a more accurate prediction of deformity progression. This, in turn, would prompt imaging and therapeutic intervention at the appropriate time, thereby achieving the best clinical outcome for this group of patients. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(8):915-921.

Predictive value of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in curve progression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

PURPOSE

Genetic diagnosis is a promising approach because several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) progression have been reported. We review the predictive value of SNPs in curve progression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

METHODS

We reviewed DNA-based prognostic testing to predict curve progression. Then, the multiple polymorphisms in loci related to AIS progression were also reviewed, and we elucidated the predictive value of SNPs from four functional perspectives, including endocrine metabolism, neuromuscular system, cartilage and extracellular matrix, enzymes, and cytokines.

RESULTS

The ScoliScores were less successful predictors than expected, and the weak power of predictive SNPs might account for its failure. Susceptibility loci in ESR1, ESR2, GPER, and IGF1, which related to endocrine metabolism, have been reported to predict AIS progression. Neuromuscular imbalance might be a potential mechanism of scoliosis, and SNPs in LBX1, NTF3, and SOCS3 have been reported to predict the curve progression of AIS. Susceptibility loci in SOX9, MATN1, AJAP1, MMP9, and TIMP2, which are related to cartilage and extracellular matrix, are also potentially related to AIS progression. Enzymes and cytokines play essential roles in regulating bone metabolism and embryonic development. SNPs in BNC2, SLC39A8, TGFB1, IL-6, IL-17RC, and CHD7 were suggested as predictive loci for AIS curve progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Many promising SNPs have been identified to predict the curve progression of AIS. However, conflicting results from replication studies and different ethnic groups hamper their reliability. Convincing SNPs from multiethnic populations and functional verification are needed.

Sagittal imbalance of the spine is associated with poor sitting posture among primary and secondary school students in China: a cross-sectional study

Background

Long-term poor posture may affect the morphological development of the spine. However, there is no definite answer as to how writing posture affects students’ spine. This study attempted to compare the sagittal curvature of the spine between sitting and standing postures in adolescents to reveal the variation rule of spinal sagittal curvature of students with learning posture, and to discover the key factors that may affect students’ spinal health.

Methods

1138 participants (male, 604; female, 534; age range, 6–18 years) from three schools in Tianjin, China, including 570 primary school students and 568 secondary school students. This study used SpineScan and PA200 Station Posture Assessment System to assess the sagittal curvature of the spine for three postures: sitting on a chair in upright position, seated at a desk while reading/writing, and standing in natural relaxed position. Analyze the difference between spine angle of the three postures and the correlation between the sagittal plane angle of the spine and body posture.

Results

The mean sagittal angle of the spine changed when the participants were in reading/writing position compared to standing position, with the lumbar lordosis angle significantly decreased (p < 0.05) and the thoracic kyphosis angle significantly increased (p < 0.05). The TKA and LLA angles were abnormal in 33 and 52% of students in reading/writing posture respectively. There was a significant correlation between sitting posture and standing spinal Angle and were positively correlated with the height of the teenager (p < 0.05). By contrast, a higher percentage of TKA and LLA subjects in the standard reading/writing posture reference range maintained normal spinal shape while standing.

Conclusions

The angle of thoracic kyphosis significantly increased from standing posture to upright sitting, reading/writing posture, while lumbar lordosis significantly decreased or even disappeared. There was a significant correlation between sagittal angle of spine in different postures. The poor sitting posture associated with sagittal angle abnormalities impact the shape of the spine such that sagittal imbalance was also observed when students in natural standing posture. Height is an important factor affecting the sitting spine shape of students.

Severity of Idiopathic Scoliosis Is Associated with Differential Methylation: An Epigenome-Wide Association Study of Monozygotic Twins with Idiopathic Scoliosis

Epigenetic mechanisms may contribute to idiopathic scoliosis (IS). We identified 8 monozygotic twin pairs with IS, 6 discordant (Cobb angle difference > 10°) and 2 concordant (Cobb angle difference ≤ 2°). Genome-wide methylation in blood was measured with the Infinium HumanMethylation EPIC Beadchip. We tested for differences in methylation and methylation variability between discordant twins and tested the association between methylation and curve severity in all twins. Differentially methylated region (DMR) analyses identified gene promoter regions. Methylation at cg12959265 (chr. 7 DPY19L1) was less variable in cases (false discovery rate (FDR) = 0.0791). We identified four probes (false discovery rate, FDR < 0.10); cg02477677 (chr. 17, RARA gene), cg12922161 (chr. 2 LOC150622 gene), cg08826461 (chr. 2), and cg16382077 (chr. 7) associated with curve severity. We identified 57 DMRs where hyper- or hypo-methylation was consistent across the region and 28 DMRs with a consistent association with curve severity. Among DMRs, 21 were correlated with bone methylation. Prioritization of regions based on methylation concordance in bone identified promoter regions for WNT10A (WNT signaling), NPY (regulator of bone and energy homeostasis), and others predicted to be relevant for bone formation/remodeling. These regions may aid in understanding the complex interplay between genetics, environment, and IS.

An adhesion G protein-coupled receptor is required in cartilaginous and dense connective tissues to maintain spine alignment

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common spine disorder affecting children worldwide, yet little is known about the pathogenesis of this disorder. Here, we demonstrate that genetic regulation of structural components of the axial skeleton, the intervertebral discs, and dense connective tissues (i.e., ligaments and tendons) is essential for the maintenance of spinal alignment. We show that the adhesion G protein-coupled receptor ADGRG6, previously implicated in human AIS association studies, is required in these tissues to maintain typical spine alignment in mice. Furthermore, we show that ADGRG6 regulates biomechanical properties of tendon and stimulates CREB signaling governing gene expression in cartilaginous tissues of the spine. Treatment with a cAMP agonist could mirror aspects of receptor function in culture, thus defining core pathways for regulating these axial cartilaginous and connective tissues. As ADGRG6 is a key gene involved in human AIS, these findings open up novel therapeutic opportunities for human scoliosis.

Genomic characterization of the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis-associated transcriptome and regulome

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), a sideways curvature of the spine, is the most common pediatric musculoskeletal disorder, affecting ~3% of the population worldwide. However, its genetic bases and tissues of origin remain largely unknown. Several genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have implicated nucleotide variants in non-coding sequences that control genes with important roles in cartilage, muscle, bone, connective tissue and intervertebral disks (IVDs) as drivers of AIS susceptibility. Here, we set out to define the expression of AIS-associated genes and active regulatory elements by performing RNA-seq and chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing against H3 lysine 27 acetylation in these tissues in mouse and human. Our study highlights genetic pathways involving AIS-associated loci that regulate chondrogenesis, IVD development and connective tissue maintenance and homeostasis. In addition, we identify thousands of putative AIS-associated regulatory elements which may orchestrate tissue-specific expression in musculoskeletal tissues of the spine. Quantification of enhancer activity of several candidate regulatory elements from our study identifies three functional enhancers carrying AIS-associated GWAS SNPs at the ADGRG6 and BNC2 loci. Our findings provide a novel genome-wide catalog of AIS-relevant genes and regulatory elements and aid in the identification of novel targets for AIS causality and treatment.

From genetics to epigenetics to unravel the etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Scoliosis is defined as the three-dimensional (3D) structural deformity of the spine with a radiological lateral Cobb angle (a measure of spinal curvature) of ≥10° that can be caused by congenital, developmental or degenerative problems. However, those cases whose etiology is still unknown, and affect healthy children and adolescents during growth, are the commonest form of spinal deformity, known as adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). In AIS management, early diagnosis and the accurate prediction of curve progression are most important because they can decrease negative long-term effects of AIS treatment, such as unnecessary bracing, frequent exposure to radiation, as well as saving the high costs of AIS treatment. Despite efforts made to identify a method or technique capable of predicting AIS progression, this challenge still remains unresolved. Genetics and epigenetics, and the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies, open up new avenues to not only clarify AIS etiology, but to also identify potential biomarkers that can substantially improve the clinical management of these patients. This review presents the most relevant biomarkers to help explain the etiopathogenesis of AIS and provide new potential biomarkers to be validated in large clinical trials so they can be finally implemented into clinical settings.

Association of variants in selected genes mediating host immune response with duration of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia

Host genetic variation may be a contributing factor to variability in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia duration. We assessed whether 28 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in seven genes (TLR2, TLR4, TIRAP, IRAK4, TRAF6, NOD2, and CISH) that mediate host immune response were associated with S. aureus bacteremia duration. Subjects included 158 patients with short-term (≤4 days) and 44 with persistent (>4 days) S. aureus bacteremia from an academic medical center. In single SNP analyses, the minor allele frequencies of three TIRAP SNPs (rs655540, rs563011, and rs8177376) were higher in persistent bacteremia (P < 0.05). A haplotype with all three minor alleles was also associated with persistent bacteremia (P = 0.037). The minor allele frequencies of four other TIRAP SNPs (rs8177342, rs4937114, rs3802813, and rs4937115) were higher in short-term bacteremia (P < 0.05), and a haplotype containing the four minor alleles was associated with short-term bacteremia (P = 0.045). All seven SNPs are located in binding sites for proteins or noncoding RNAs that regulate transcription. None of the associations remained statistically significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Further investigation is needed to understand how genetic variation in TIRAP and other host immune genes may influence the duration of S. aureus bacteremia.

Genetic Variations of Ultraconserved Elements in the Human Genome

Ultraconserved elements (UCEs) are among the most popular DNA markers for phylogenomic analysis. In at least three of five placental mammalian genomes (human, dog, cow, mouse, and rat), 2189 UCEs of at least 200 bp in length that are identical have been identified. Most of these regions have not yet been functionally annotated, and their associations with diseases remain largely unknown. This is an important knowledge gap in human genomics with regard to UCE roles in physiologically critical functions, and by extension, their relevance for shared susceptibilities to common complex diseases across several mammalian organisms in the event of their polymorphic variations. In the present study, we remapped the genomic locations of these UCEs to the latest human genome assembly, and examined them for documented polymorphisms in sequenced human genomes. We identified 29,983 polymorphisms within analyzed UCEs, but revealed that a vast majority exhibits very low minor allele frequencies. Notably, only 112 of the identified polymorphisms are associated with a phenotype in the Ensembl genome browser. Through literature analyses, we confirmed associations of 37 (i.e., out of the 112) polymorphisms within 23 UCEs with 25 diseases and phenotypic traits, including, muscular dystrophies, eye diseases, and cancers (e.g., familial adenomatous polyposis). Most reports of UCE polymorphism-disease associations appeared to be not cognizant that their candidate polymorphisms were actually within UCEs. The present study offers strategic directions and knowledge gaps for future computational and experimental work so as to better understand the thus far intriguing and puzzling role(s) of UCEs in mammalian genomes.

The cartilage matrisome in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

The human spinal column is a dynamic, segmented, bony, and cartilaginous structure that protects the neurologic system and simultaneously provides balance and flexibility. Children with developmental disorders that affect the patterning or shape of the spine can be at risk of neurologic and other physiologic dysfunctions. The most common developmental disorder of the spine is scoliosis, a lateral deformity in the shape of the spinal column. Scoliosis may be part of the clinical spectrum that is observed in many developmental disorders, but typically presents as an isolated symptom in otherwise healthy adolescent children. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) has defied understanding in part due to its genetic complexity. Breakthroughs have come from recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and next generation sequencing (NGS) of human AIS cohorts, as well as investigations of animal models. These studies have identified genetic associations with determinants of cartilage biogenesis and development of the intervertebral disc (IVD). Current evidence suggests that a fraction of AIS cases may arise from variation in factors involved in the structural integrity and homeostasis of the cartilaginous extracellular matrix (ECM). Here, we review the development of the spine and spinal cartilages, the composition of the cartilage ECM, the so-called "matrisome" and its functions, and the players involved in the genetic architecture of AIS. We also propose a molecular model by which the cartilage matrisome of the IVD contributes to AIS susceptibility.

Relationship of COL9A1 and SOX9 Genes with Genetic Susceptibility of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

As one of the most common types of osteoporosis, postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Previous studies have indicated that SOX9 activity is tightly regulated to ensure normal bone mineral density (BMD) in the adult skeleton, and the COL9A1 promoter region can be transactivated by SOX9. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential association between PMOP and the COL9A1 and SOX9 genes. A total of 10,443 postmenopausal women, including 2288 patients and 3557 controls in the discovery stage and 1566 patients and 3032 controls in the validation stage, were recruited. Forty-three tag SNPs (36 in COL9A1 and 7 in SOX9) were selected for genotyping to evaluate the association of the SOX9 gene with PMOP and BMD. Association and bioinformatics analyses were performed for PMOP. BMD and serum level of SOX9 were also utilized as quantitative phenotypes in further analyses. SNP rs73354570 of SOX9 was significantly associated with PMOP in both discovery stages (OR 1.24 [1.10-1.39], P = 3.56 × 10^-4, χ² = 12.75) and combined samples (OR 1.25 [1.15-1.37], P = 5.25 × 10^-7, χ² = 25.17). Further analyses showed that the SNP was also significantly associated with BMD and serum levels of the SOX9 protein. Our results provide further supportive evidence for the association of the SOX9 gene with PMOP and of the SOX9 gene with the variation of BMD in postmenopausal Han Chinese women. This study supports a role for SOX9 in the etiology of PMOP, adding to the current understanding of the susceptibility of osteoporosis.

Replication Study for the Association of GWAS-associated Loci With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Susceptibility and Curve Progression in a Chinese Population

STUDY DESIGN

A genetic association (replication) study.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to replicate and further evaluate the association among seven genome-wide association studies (GWAS)-identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Chinese girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with disease onset, curve types, and progression.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

AIS is the most common pediatric spinal deformity with a strong genetic predisposition. Recent GWAS identified 10 new disease predisposition loci for AIS.

METHODS

Three hundred nineteen female AIS patients with Cobb angle ≥ 10 and 201 healthy controls were studied for the association with disease onset. Seven GWAS-identified SNPs (rs11190870 in LBX1, rs12946942 in SOX9/KCNJ2, rs13398147 in PAX3/EPH4, rs241215 in AJAP1, rs3904778 in BNC2, rs6570507 in GPR126, and rs678741 in LBX1-AS1) were analyzed. In subgroup analysis, AIS patients were subdivided by curve types and disease progression to examine for genotype association.

RESULTS

We replicated the association with disease onset in four common SNPs rs11190870, rs3904778, rs6570507, and rs678741. In addition, rs1190870 and rs678741 remained significantly associated in the right thoracic curves only subgroup. However, no significant difference was observed with both clinical curve progression or Cobb angle.

CONCLUSION

This study replicated the associations of four GWAS-associated SNPs with occurrence of AIS in our Chinese population. However, none of these SNPs was associated with curve severity and progression. The results suggest that curve progression may be determined by environmental (nongenetic) factor, but further study with a larger sample size is required to address this issue.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

A missense variant in SLC39A8 is associated with severe idiopathic scoliosis

Genetic factors predictive of severe adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) are largely unknown. To identify genetic variation associated with severe AIS, we performed an exome-wide association study of 457 severe AIS cases and 987 controls. We find a missense SNP in SLC39A8 (p.Ala391Thr, rs13107325) associated with severe AIS (P = 1.60 × 10⁻⁷, OR = 2.01, CI = 1.54–2.62). This pleiotropic SNP was previously associated with BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood manganese level. We replicate the association in a second cohort (841 cases and 1095 controls) resulting in a combined P = 7.02 × 10⁻¹⁴, OR = 1.94, CI = 1.63–2.34. Clinically, the minor allele of rs13107325 is associated with greater spinal curvature, decreased height, increased BMI and lower plasma manganese in our AIS cohort. Functional studies demonstrate reduced manganese influx mediated by the SLC39A8 p.Ala391Thr variant and vertebral abnormalities, impaired growth, and decreased motor activity in slc39a8 mutant zebrafish. Our results suggest the possibility that scoliosis may be amenable to dietary intervention.

The majority of scoliosis is considered idiopathic with onset in adolescence (AIS) and has a genetic contribution. Here, the authors perform an exome wide association study of data from 457 severe AIS cases and 987 controls, and find a missense variant in SLC39A8 is associated with AIS.

Idiopathic Scoliosis Families Highlight Actin-Based and Microtubule-Based Cellular Projections and Extracellular Matrix in Disease Etiology

Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is a structural lateral spinal curvature of ≥10° that affects up to 3% of otherwise healthy children and can lead to life-long problems in severe cases. It is well-established that IS is a genetic disorder. Previous studies have identified genes that may contribute to the IS phenotype, but the overall genetic etiology of IS is not well understood. We used exome sequencing to study five multigenerational families with IS. Bioinformatic analyses identified unique and low frequency variants (minor allele frequency ≤5%) that were present in all sequenced members of the family. Across the five families, we identified a total of 270 variants with predicted functional consequences in 246 genes, and found that eight genes were shared by two families. We performed GO term enrichment analyses, with the hypothesis that certain functional annotations or pathways would be enriched in the 246 genes identified in our IS families. Using three complementary programs to complete these analyses, we identified enriched categories that include stereocilia and other actin-based cellular projections, cilia and other microtubule-based cellular projections, and the extracellular matrix (ECM). Our results suggest that there are multiple paths to IS and provide a foundation for future studies of IS pathogenesis.

A Replication Study for the Association of rs11190870 With Curve Severity in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis in Japanese

STUDY DESIGN

Case-only study.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to confirm the association of rs11190870 with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) severity in Japanese patients with AIS.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Although the association of rs11190870 with AIS susceptibility is replicated in multiple ethnics, the association of rs11190870 with curve severity is controversial. Since the previous studies are of small, we performed a replication study using far larger number of patients than previous studies.

METHODS

A total of 1860 Japanese patients with AIS who had reached skeletal maturity or undergone surgical fusion were included in the study. We evaluated the association between rs11190870 and AIS progression for the entire group, and then for patients grouped according to a severe curve (a Cobb angle of ≥40°) or mild curve (a Cobb angle <30°). Because braces could affect the results of the present study, patients in the mild-curve group were divided according to whether or not they had worn a brace. We then evaluated associations between rs11190870 genotype and curve severity in these groups.

RESULTS

The mean Cobb angles were 54.8° ± 12.1° in the severe-curve group and 24.4° ± 4.0° in the mild-curve group. The difference in rs11190870 risk-allele frequency between the severe- and mild-curve groups was evaluated. No significant differences were observed. We then examined the association of rs11190870 risk-allele frequency between patients in the mild- and severe-curve groups using the χ test for three models, and found a marginal association between rs11190870 and curve severity in the dominant model (P = 0.035, odds ratio = 1.51).

CONCLUSION

We found no association between rs11190870 and curve severity using the criteria of previous study. However, we found a marginal association between rs11190870 and curve severity. Large-scale replication studies that consider skeletal maturity and brace history, including replication studies in other ethnic groups, would be helpful for clarifying the association.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

An international meta-analysis confirms the association of BNC2 with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a common spinal deformity with the prevalence of approximately 3%. We previously conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a Japanese cohort and identified a novel locus on chromosome 9p22.2. However, a replication study using multi-population cohorts has not been conducted. To confirm the association of 9p22.2 locus with AIS in multi-ethnic populations, we conducted international meta-analysis using eight cohorts. In total, we analyzed 8,756 cases and 27,822 controls. The analysis showed a convincing evidence of association between rs3904778 and AIS. Seven out of eight cohorts had significant P value, and remaining one cohort also had the same trend as the seven. The combined P was 3.28 × 10⁻¹⁸ (odds ratio = 1.19, 95% confidence interval = 1.14–1.24). In silico analyses suggested that BNC2 is the AIS susceptibility gene in this locus.

A Replication Study for Association of LBX1 Locus With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis in French-Canadian Population

STUDY DESIGN

A case-control association study.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the relationship between LBX1 (lady bird homeobox1) polymorphisms and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in French-Canadian population.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

It is widely accepted that genetic factors contribute to AIS. Although the LBX1 locus is so far the most successfully replicated locus in different AIS cohorts, these associations were replicated mainly in Asian populations, with few studies in Caucasian populations of European descent.

METHODS

We recruited 1568 participants (667 AIS patients and 901 healthy controls) in the French-Canadian population. Genomic data were generated using the Illumina Human Omni 2.5M BeadChip. An additional 121 AIS cases and 51 controls were genotyped for specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by multiplex polymerase chain reaction using standard procedures. BEAGLE 3 was used to impute the following markers: rs7893223, rs11190878, and rs678741 against the 1000-genomes European cohort phased genotypes given that they were absent in our genome wide association studies (GWAS) panel. Resulting genotypes were combined then used for single marker and haplotyped-based association.

RESULTS

Four markers showed association with AIS in our cohort at this locus; rs11190870 the most studied marker, rs7893223, rs594791, and rs11190878. When we restricted the analysis to severe cases only, four additional SNPs showed associations: rs11598177, rs1322331, rs670206, and rs678741. In addition, we analyzed the associations of the observed haplotypes and dihaplotypes formed by these SNPs. The haplotype TTAAGAAA and its homozygous dihaplotype showed the highest association with our severe group and was the highest risk haplotype. The haplotype CCGCAGGG was significantly more associated with the control group, and its homozygous or heterozygous dihaplotype was less frequent in the severe group compared with the control group, suggesting that CCGCAGGG may represent a protective haplotype.

CONCLUSION

We have replicated the association of the LBX1 locus with AIS in French-Canadian population, a novel European descent cohort, which is known for its unique genetic architecture.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.

Whole-genome sequencing reveals principles of brain retrotransposition in neurodevelopmental disorders

Neural progenitor cells undergo somatic retrotransposition events, mainly involving L1 elements, which can be potentially deleterious. Here, we analyze the whole genomes of 20 brain samples and 80 non-brain samples, and characterized the retrotransposition landscape of patients affected by a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders including Rett syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, ataxia-telangiectasia and autism. We report that the number of retrotranspositions in brain tissues is higher than that observed in non-brain samples and even higher in pathologic vs normal brains. The majority of somatic brain retrotransposons integrate into pre-existing repetitive elements, preferentially A/T rich L1 sequences, resulting in nested insertions. Our findings document the fingerprints of encoded endonuclease independent mechanisms in the majority of L1 brain insertion events. The insertions are "non-classical" in that they are truncated at both ends, integrate in the same orientation as the host element, and their target sequences are enriched with a CCATT motif in contrast to the classical endonuclease motif of most other retrotranspositions. We show that L1Hs elements integrate preferentially into genes associated with neural functions and diseases. We propose that pre-existing retrotransposons act as "lightning rods" for novel insertions, which may give fine modulation of gene expression while safeguarding from deleterious events. Overwhelmingly uncontrolled retrotransposition may breach this safeguard mechanism and increase the risk of harmful mutagenesis in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Summary of the first inaugural joint meeting of the International Consortium for scoliosis genetics and the International Consortium for vertebral anomalies and scoliosis, March 16-18, 2017, Dallas, Texas

Scoliosis represents the most common musculoskeletal disorder in children and affects approximately 3% of the world population. Scoliosis is separated into two major phenotypic classifications: congenital and idiopathic. Idiopathic scoliosis is defined as a curvature of the spine of 10° or greater visualized on plane radiograph and does not have associated vertebral malformations (VM). "Congenital" scoliosis (CS) due to malformations in vertebrae is frequently associated with other birth defects. Recently, significant advances have been made in understanding the genetic basis of both conditions. There is evidence that both conditions are etiologically related. A 2-day conference entitled "Genomic Approaches to Understanding and Treating Scoliosis" was held at Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, Texas, to synergize research in this field. This first combined, multidisciplinary conference featured international scoliosis researchers in basic and clinical sciences. A major outcome of the conference advancing scoliosis research was the proposal and subsequent vote in favor of merging the International Consortium for Vertebral Anomalies and Scoliosis (ICVAS) and International Consortium for Scoliosis Genetics (ICSG) into a single entity called International Consortium for Spinal Genetics, Development, and Disease (ICSGDD). The ICSGDD is proposed to meet annually as a forum to synergize multidisciplinary spine deformity research.

CELSR2 is a candidate susceptibility gene in idiopathic scoliosis

A Swedish pedigree with an autosomal dominant inheritance of idiopathic scoliosis was initially studied by genetic linkage analysis, prioritising genomic regions for further analysis. This revealed a locus on chromosome 1 with a putative risk haplotype shared by all affected individuals. Two affected individuals were subsequently exome-sequenced, identifying a rare, non-synonymous variant in the CELSR2 gene. This variant is rs141489111, a c.G6859A change in exon 21 (NM_001408), leading to a predicted p.V2287I (NP_001399.1) change. This variant was found in all affected members of the pedigree, but showed reduced penetrance. Analysis of tagging variants in CELSR1-3 in a set of 1739 Swedish-Danish scoliosis cases and 1812 controls revealed significant association (p = 0.0001) to rs2281894, a common synonymous variant in CELSR2. This association was not replicated in case-control cohorts from Japan and the US. No association was found to variants in CELSR1 or CELSR3. Our findings suggest a rare variant in CELSR2 as causative for idiopathic scoliosis in a family with dominant segregation and further highlight common variation in CELSR2 in general susceptibility to idiopathic scoliosis in the Swedish-Danish population. Both variants are located in the highly conserved GAIN protein domain, which is necessary for the auto-proteolysis of CELSR2, suggesting its functional importance.

Genetics and pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis

Idiopathic scoliosis (IS), the most common spinal deformity, affects otherwise healthy children and adolescents during growth. The aetiology is still unknown, although genetic factors are believed to be important. The present review corroborates the understanding of IS as a complex disease with a polygenic background. Presumably IS can be due to a spectrum of genetic risk variants, ranging from very rare or even private to very common. The most promising candidate genes are highlighted.

Associations of LBX1 gene and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis susceptibility: a meta-analysis based on 34,626 subjects

Background

The results of studies investigating the association between the ladybird homeobox 1 (LBX1) gene polymorphisms and the risk of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) are not all the same. As such, we performed a meta-analysis to estimate the association between LBX1 gene polymorphisms and AIS susceptibility.

Methods

Relevant studies published before 15 November 2015 were identified by searching PubMed, EMBASE, ISI web of knowledge, EBSCO, CNKI and CBM. The strength of relationship was assessed by using odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence interval (CI).

Results

A total number of eight case-control studies including 10,088 cases and 24,538 controls were identified. The results showed that T allele of rs111090870 increased AIS susceptibility in Asians (T vs. C, OR = 1.22, 95 % CI: 1.16–1.29, P < 0.001), Caucasians (T vs. C, OR = 1.17, 95 % CI: 1.14–1.21, P < 0.001) and in female (T vs. C, OR = 1.21, 95 % CI: 1.17–1.25, P < 0.001). The G allele of rs678741 decreased AIS risk in female (G vs. A, OR = 0.83, 95 % CI: 0.81–0.85, P < 0.001), and the G allele of the rs625039 increased AIS susceptibility in Asians (G vs. A, OR = 1.14, 95 % CI: 1.11–1.17, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis provides evidence that rs111090870, rs678741 and rs625039 polymorphisms near LBX1 gene are associated with AIS susceptibility in some populations. However, our findings are based on only a limited number of studies.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12891-016-1139-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Understanding the role of the immune system in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: Immunometabolic CONnections to Scoliosis (ICONS) study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) affects up to 3% of children around the world. There is limited knowledge of AIS aetiopathogenesis, and this evidence is needed to develop new management strategies. Paraspinal muscle in AIS demonstrates evidence of differential fibrosis based on curve sidedness. Fibrosis is the hallmark of macrophage-driven inflammation and tissue remodelling, yet the mechanisms of fibrosis in paraspinal muscle in AIS are poorly understood.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this study is to determine the influence of curve sidedness on paraspinal muscle inflammation. Secondary objectives include defining the mechanisms of macrophage homing to muscle, and determining muscle-macrophage crosstalk in muscle fibrosis in AIS.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary paediatric centre in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. We will recruit boys and girls, 10-17 years of age, who are having surgery to correct AIS. We will exclude children who have an active infection or are on immunosuppressive therapies within 2 weeks of surgery, smokers and pregnant girls. Paraspinal muscle biopsies will be obtained at the start of surgery. Also, blood and urine samples will be collected from participants, who will fill questionnaires about their lifestyle. Anthropometric measures will also be collected including height, weight, waist and hip circumferences.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study has received ethics authorisation by the institutional review board. This work will be published in peer-reviewed journals and will be presented in oral and poster formats at scientific meetings.

DISCUSSION

This study will explore the mechanisms of paraspinal muscle inflammation, remodelling and fibrosis in AIS. This will help identify pathways and molecules as potential therapeutic targets to treat and prevent AIS. It may also yield markers that predict scoliosis progression and response to treatment in these children.

Evaluation of IRX Genes and Conserved Noncoding Elements in a Region on 5p13.3 Linked to Families with Familial Idiopathic Scoliosis and Kyphosis

Because of genetic heterogeneity present in idiopathic scoliosis, we previously defined clinical subsets (a priori) from a sample of families with idiopathic scoliosis to find genes involved with spinal curvature. Previous genome-wide linkage analysis of seven families with at least two individuals with kyphoscoliosis found linkage (P-value = 0.002) in a 3.5-Mb region on 5p13.3 containing only three known genes, IRX1, IRX2, and IRX4. In this study, the exons of IRX1, IRX2, and IRX4, the conserved noncoding elements in the region, and the exons of a nonprotein coding RNA, LOC285577, were sequenced. No functional sequence variants were identified. An intrafamilial test of association found several associated noncoding single nucleotide variants. The strongest association was with rs12517904 (P = 0.00004), located 6.5 kb downstream from IRX1. In one family, the genotypes of nine variants differed from the reference allele in all individuals with kyphoscoliosis, and two of three individuals with scoliosis, but did not differ from the reference allele in all other genotyped individuals. One of these variants, rs117273909, was located in a conserved noncoding region that functions as an enhancer in mice. To test whether the variant allele at rs117273909 had an effect on enhancer activity, zebrafish transgenesis was performed with overlapping fragments of 198 and 687 bp containing either the wild type or the variant allele. Our data suggests that this region acts as a regulatory element; however, its size and target gene(s) need to be identified to determine its role in idiopathic scoliosis.

Association Between IL-6 and MMP3 Common Genetic Polymorphisms and Idiopathic Scoliosis in Bulgarian Patients: A Case-control Study

STUDY DESIGN

A case-control study was performed on 105 patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) and 210 unrelated gender-matched controls from Bulgarian population.

OBJECTIVE

Investigation of the association between common genetic polymorphisms of IL-6 and MMP3 genes and the etiology and progression of IS among Bulgarian patients.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

The IL-6 and MMP3 genes have been considered as candidate genes of IS in Caucasian population.

METHODS

Molecular detection of the promoter polymorphisms of IL-6 and MMP3 was performed by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism. The statistical analysis was performed by χ test with a value of P < 0.05 as statistically significant. The combinatorial effect of the candidate genes was also examined.

RESULTS

This case-control study revealed statistically significant association between the IL-6 (rs1800795) functional polymorphism and susceptibility to IS (χ = 16.055; P < 0.0001). In addition, a significant association between IL-6 (rs1800795) and curve severity was detected (χ = 16.87; P < 0.0001). No genotype or allele of MMP3 (rs3025058) was found to be correlated to the onset or progression of IS (P > 0.05). One IL-6-MMP3 genotype combination was associated with the susceptibility to IS.

CONCLUSION

IL-6 gene could be considered as a susceptibility and modifying factor of IS. The identification of molecular markers with diagnostic and prognostic value could be useful for early detection of children at risk for the development of IS and for prognosis of the risk for a rapid deformity progression. That would facilitate the therapy decisions and early stage treatment of the patient with the least invasive procedures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

Candidate gene analysis and exome sequencing confirm LBX1 as a susceptibility gene for idiopathic scoliosis

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Idiopathic scoliosis is a spinal deformity affecting approximately 3% of otherwise healthy children or adolescents. The etiology is still largely unknown but has an important genetic component. Genome-wide association studies have identified a number of common genetic variants that are significantly associated with idiopathic scoliosis in Asian and Caucasian populations, rs11190870 close to the LBX1 gene being the most replicated finding.

PURPOSE

The aim of the present study was to investigate the genetics of idiopathic scoliosis in a Scandinavian cohort by performing a candidate gene study of four variants previously shown to be associated with idiopathic scoliosis and exome sequencing of idiopathic scoliosis patients with a severe phenotype to identify possible novel scoliosis risk variants.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a case control study.

PATIENT SAMPLE

A total of 1,739 patients with idiopathic scoliosis and 1,812 controls were included.

OUTCOME MEASURE

The outcome measure was idiopathic scoliosis.

METHODS

The variants rs10510181, rs11190870, rs12946942, and rs6570507 were genotyped in 1,739 patients with idiopathic scoliosis and 1,812 controls. Exome sequencing was performed on pooled samples from 100 surgically treated idiopathic scoliosis patients. Novel or rare missense, nonsense, or splice site variants were selected for individual genotyping in the 1,739 cases and 1,812 controls. In addition, the 5'UTR, noncoding exon and promoter regions of LBX1, not covered by exome sequencing, were Sanger sequenced in the 100 pooled samples.

RESULTS

Of the four candidate genes, an intergenic variant, rs11190870, downstream of the LBX1 gene, showed a highly significant association to idiopathic scoliosis in 1,739 cases and 1,812 controls (p=7.0×10(-18)). We identified 20 novel variants by exome sequencing after filtration and an initial genotyping validation. However, we could not verify any association to idiopathic scoliosis in the large cohort of 1,739 cases and 1,812 controls. We did not find any variants in the 5'UTR, noncoding exon and promoter regions of LBX1.

CONCLUSIONS

Here, we confirm LBX1 as a susceptibility gene for idiopathic scoliosis in a Scandinavian population and report that we are unable to find evidence of other genes of similar or stronger effect.

Predictors of spine deformity progression in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A systematic review with meta-analysis

AIM: To evaluate published data on the predictors of progressive adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in order to evaluate their efficacy and level of evidence.

METHODS: Selection criteria: (1) study design: randomized controlled clinical trials, prospective cohort studies and case series, retrospective comparative and none comparative studies; (2) participants: adolescents with AIS aged from 10 to 20 years; and (3) treatment: observation, bracing, and other. Search method: Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, PubMed and patent data bases. All years through August 2014 were included. Data were collected that showed an association between the studied characteristics and the progression of AIS or the severity of the spine deformity. Odds ratio (OR), sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were also collected. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the pooled OR and predictive values, if more than 1 study presented a result. The GRADE approach was applied to evaluate the level of evidence.

RESULTS: The review included 25 studies. All studies showed statistically significant or borderline association between severity or progression of AIS with the following characteristics: (1) An increase of the Cobb angle or axial rotation during brace treatment; (2) decrease of the rib-vertebral angle at the apical level of the convex side during brace treatment; (3) initial Cobb angle severity (> 25^o); (4) osteopenia; (5) patient age < 13 years at diagnosis; (6) premenarche status; (7) skeletal immaturity; (8) thoracic deformity; (9) brain stem vestibular dysfunction; and (10) multiple indices combining radiographic, demographic, and physiologic characteristics. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the following genes: (1) calmodulin 1; (2) estrogen receptor 1; (3) tryptophan hydroxylase 1; (3) insulin-like growth factor 1; (5) neurotrophin 3; (6) interleukin-17 receptor C; (7) melatonin receptor 1B, and (8) ScoliScore test. Other predictors included: (1) impairment of melatonin signaling in osteoblasts and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC); (2) G-protein signaling dysfunction in PBMC; and (3) the level of platelet calmodulin. However, predictive values of all these findings were limited, and the levels of evidence were low. The pooled result of brace treatment outcomes demonstrated that around 27% of patents with AIS experienced exacerbation of the spine deformity during or after brace treatment, and 15% required surgical correction. However, the level of evidence is also low due to the limitations of the included studies.

CONCLUSION: This review did not reveal any methods for the prediction of progression in AIS that could be recommended for clinical use as diagnostic criteria.

Systematic chromatin state comparison of epigenomes associated with diverse properties including sex and tissue type

Epigenomic data sets provide critical information about the dynamic role of chromatin states in gene regulation, but a key question of how chromatin state segmentations vary under different conditions across the genome has remained unaddressed. Here we present ChromDiff, a group-wise chromatin state comparison method that generates an information-theoretic representation of epigenomes and corrects for external covariate factors to better isolate relevant chromatin state changes. By applying ChromDiff to the 127 epigenomes from the Roadmap Epigenomics and ENCODE projects, we provide novel group-wise comparative analyses across sex, tissue type, state and developmental age. Remarkably, we find that distinct sets of epigenomic features are maximally discriminative for different group-wise comparisons, in each case revealing distinct enriched pathways, many of which do not show gene expression differences. Our methodology should be broadly applicable for epigenomic comparisons and provides a powerful new tool for studying chromatin state differences at the genome scale.

Lateral Semicircular Canal Asymmetry in Idiopathic Scoliosis: An Early Link between Biomechanical, Hormonal and Neurosensory Theories?

INTRODUCTION

Despite its high incidence and severe morbidity, the physiopathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is still unknown. Here, we looked for early anomalies in AIS which are likely to be the cause of spinal deformity and could also be targeted by early treatments. We focused on the vestibular system, which is suspected of acting in AIS pathogenesis and which exhibits an end organ with size and shape fixed before birth. We hypothesize that, in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, vestibular morphological anomalies were already present at birth and could possibly have caused other abnormalities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The vestibular organ of 18 adolescents with AIS and 9 controls were evaluated with MRI in a prospective case controlled study. We studied lateral semicircular canal orientation and the three semicircular canal positions relative to the midline. Lateral semicircular canal function was also evaluated by vestibulonystagmography after bithermal caloric stimulation.

RESULTS

The left lateral semicircular canal was more vertical and further from the midline in AIS (p = 0.01) and these two parameters were highly correlated (r = -0.6; p = 0.02). These morphological anomalies were associated with functional anomalies in AIS (lower excitability, higher canal paresis), but were not significantly different from controls (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis exhibit morphological vestibular asymmetry, probably determined well before birth. Since the vestibular system influences the vestibulospinal pathway, the hypothalamus, and the cerebellum, this indicates that the vestibular system is a possible cause of later morphological, hormonal and neurosensory anomalies observed in AIS. Moreover, the simple lateral SCC MRI measurement demonstrated here could be used for early detection of AIS, selection of children for close follow-up, and initiation of preventive treatment before spinal deformity occurs.

Haplotypes at LBX1 have distinct inheritance patterns with opposite effects in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a clinically significant disorder with high heritability that affects 2–4% of the population. Genome-wide association studies have identified LBX1 as a strong susceptibility locus for AIS in Asian and Caucasian populations. Here we further dissect the genetic association with AIS in a Caucasian population. To identify genetic markers associated with AIS we employed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) design comparing 620 female Caucasian patients who developed idiopathic scoliosis during adolescence with 1,287 ethnically matched females who had normal spinal curves by skeletal maturity. The genomic region around LBX1 was imputed and haplotypes investigated for genetic signals under different inheritance models. The strongest signal was identified upstream of LBX1 (rs11190878, P_trend = 4.18×10^-9, OR = 0.63[0.54–0.74]). None of the remaining SNPs pass the genome-wide significance threshold. We found rs11190870, downstream of LBX1 and previously associated with AIS in Asian populations, to be in modest linkage disequilibrium (LD) with rs11190878 (r² = 0.40, D' = 0.81). Haplotype analysis shows that rs11190870 and rs11190878 track a single risk factor that resides on the ancestral haplotype and is shared across ethnic groups. We identify six haplotypes at the LBX1 locus including two strongly associated haplotypes; a recessive risk haplotype (TTA, Control_freq = 0.52, P = 1.25×10^-9, OR = 1.56), and a co-dominant protective haplotype (CCG, Control_freq = 0.28, P = 2.75×10^-7, OR = 0.65). Together the association signals from LBX1 explain 1.4% of phenotypic variance. Our results identify two clinically relevant haplotypes in the LBX1-region with opposite effects on AIS risk. The study demonstrates the utility of haplotypes over un-phased SNPs for individualized risk assessment by more strongly delineating individuals at risk for AIS without compromising the effect size.

Updates on surgical treatments for pediatric scoliosis

Scoliosis in children poses serious problems including respiratory problems, trunk imbalance, and depression, as well as detracting from the child's appearance. Scoliosis can also contribute to back pain later in life. Advanced surgical techniques allow for good correction and maintenance of progressive curves, and growth-sparing treatments are now available for patients with early-onset scoliosis (EOS). Posterior corrective surgeries using pedicle screw (PS) constructs, which allow curves to be corrected in three dimensions, has become the most popular surgical treatment for scoliosis. Several navigation systems and probes have been developed to aid in accurate PS placement. For thoracolumbar and lumbar curves, anterior surgery remains the method of choice. Growth-sparing techniques for treating EOS include growing rods, the Shilla method, anterior stapling, and vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib, which was originally designed to treat thoracic insufficiency syndrome. However, these advanced surgical techniques do not always offer a perfect solution for pediatric scoliosis, and they are associated with complications such as infections and problems with instrumentation. Surgeons have developed several techniques in efforts to address these complications. We here review historic and recent advances in the surgical treatment of scoliosis in children, the problems associated with various techniques, and the challenges that remain to be overcome.