Association of Ligamentum Flavum Hypertrophy with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Progression-Comparative Microarray Gene Expression Analysis

Exploitation and Application of a New Genetic Sex Marker Based on Intron Insertion Variation of erc2 Gene in Oplegnathus punctatus

Spotted knifejaw (Oplegnathus punctatus), one of the most valuable mariculture species, grows with significant sexual dimorphism, with males growing significantly faster than females. O. punctatus not only has excellent growth characteristics and high food value, but also shows high economic value in aquaculture, which has become a hotspot in the field of aquaculture. The current insufficiency of sex marker identification in O. punctatus restricts the process of its unisexual breeding. Rapid identification of sex will help to study the mechanisms of sex determination and accelerate the development of sex-controlled breeding. With the completion of the sequencing of the male and female genomes of O. punctatus, the efficient and precise development of genetic sex markers has been made possible. In this study, we used genome-wide information combined with molecular biology techniques from marker sequences to further establish a rapid method for DNA insertion variant detection in the intron of O. punctatus erc2 gene, which can be used to rapidly, accurately, and efficiently identify whether DNA insertion occurs in the intron of O. punctatus erc2 gene to be detected, and to identify the sex of O. punctatus to be detected. It could also be distinguished by agarose gel electrophoresis, which would shorten the time for accurate identification and improves the detection efficiency. Homozygous comparison of male and female individuals showed that the length of the DNA fragment of the erc2 gene was 239 bp on chromosome X1 and 1173 bp on chromosome Y. It can therefore be inferred that a 934 bp insertion fragment exists on the Y chromosome. The PCR amplification results showed that two DNA fragments of 1173 bp and 239 bp could be amplified in male O. punctatus, and the 1173 bp fragment was a marker fragment specific to the variant intron erc2 gene, while only a single DNA fragment of 239 bp was amplified in female O. punctatus. It has important significance and application value in the study of neurotransmitter transmission and environmental adaptability of female and male fish based on erc2 gene, as well as the identification of male and female sex, the preparation of high male fry, and family breeding.

Advances in genetic factors of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a bibliometric analysis

Objective

This study offers a bibliometric analysis of the current situation, hotspots, and cutting-edge domains of genetic factors of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Methods

All publications related to genetic factors of AIS from January 1, 1992, to February 28, 2023, were searched from the Web of Science. CiteSpace software was employed for bibliometric analysis, collecting information about countries, institutions, authors, journals, and keywords of each article.

Results

A cumulative number of 308 articles have been ascertained. Since 2006, publications relating to genetic factors of AIS have significantly increased. China leads in both productivity and influence in this area, with the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences being the most productive institution. The most prolific scholars in this field are Y. Qiu and Z. Z. Zhu. The publications that contributed the most were from Spine and European Spine Journal. The most prominent keywords in the genetic factors of AIS were "fibrillin gene", "menarche", "calmodulin", "estrogen receptor gene", "linkage analysis", "disc degeneration", "bone mineral density", "melatonin signaling dysfunction", "collagen gene", "mesenchymal stem cell", "LBX1", "promoter polymorphism", "Bone formation", "cerebrospinal fluid flow" and "extracellular matrix".

Conclusion

This analysis provides the frontiers and trends of genetic factors in AIS, including relevant research, partners, institutions and countries.

The Role of Muscle Biomarkers in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the predominant orthopedic disorder in children, affecting 1-3% of the global population. Research in this field has tried to delineate the genetic factors behind scoliosis and its association with heredity since AIS is considered a polygenic disease and has different genetic and epigenetic factors. The current study conducted a narrative review of the literature, focusing on biomarkers in the pathophysiology of muscle in AIS patients. Articles were collected from Scopus, Pubmed, and Web of Science. The key screening parameters were scoliosis classification, sampling, and the biomarkers evaluated. This review emphasizes potential key mechanisms and molecular regulators in muscle tissue. While there has been limited focus on the proteins contributing to muscle changes in AIS, significant attention has been given to genomic studies of single-nucleotide polymorphisms, particularly in LBX1. Despite these efforts, the exact causes of AIS remain elusive, with several theories suggesting genetic and hormonal factors. This review identified critical protein biomarkers such as Gi-protein alpha subunits, fibrillin-1 and -2, and various differentially expressed proteins, which may be linked to muscle alterations in AIS. This field of research is still limited due to a lack of homogeneity in the distinction of patients by groups and curve severity. Although the pathophysiology of AIS is still unclear, molecular research is important to guide the treatment of AIS before achieving skeletal maturity, thus avoiding serious problems associated with posture changes and low quality of life. In the future, a more comprehensive synergy between orthopedic and molecular research might ameliorate the diagnosis and treatment of AIS patients.

Transforming Growth Factor-β Induces Interleukin-6 Secretion from Human Ligamentum Flavum-Derived Cells through Partial Activation of p38 and p44/42 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

STUDY DESIGN

This experimental study was performed using human ligamentum flavum-derived cells (HFCs).

PURPOSE

To investigate the intracellular signaling mechanism of interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion in transforming growth factor-β (TGF- β)-stimulated HFCs.

OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a prevalent disease among the elderly, characterized by debilitating pain in the lower extremities. Although the number of patients with LSS has increased in recent years, the underlying pathomechanism remains unclear. Clinical examinations typically rely on magnetic resonance imaging to diagnose patients, revealing ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. Some studies have suggested an association between ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and inflammation/fibrosis, and expression of TGF-β and IL-6 has been observed in surgically obtained ligamentum flavum samples. However, direct evidence linking TGF-β and IL-6 expression in HFCs is lacking.

METHODS

HFCs were obtained from patients with LSS who had undergone decompression surgery. The cells were stimulated with TGF-β and pretreated with either the p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor SB203580 or the p44/42 MAP kinase inhibitor FR180204. IL-6 secretion in the cell culture medium and IL-6 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunoassay and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively.

RESULTS

TGF-β administration resulted in a dose- and time-dependent stimulation of IL-6 release. Treatment with SB203580 and FR180204 markedly suppressed TGF-β-induced IL-6 secretion from HFCs. Moreover, these inhibitors suppressed IL-6 mRNA expression in response to TGF-β stimulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that TGF-β induces IL-6 protein secretion and gene expression in HFCs through the activation of p38 or p44/42 MAP kinases. These results suggest a potential association between IL-6-mediated inflammatory response and tissue hypertrophy in LSS, and we provide insights into molecular targets for therapeutic interventions targeting LSS-related inflammation through our analysis of the MAP kinase pathway using HFCs.

Asymmetric Load Transmission Induces Facet Joint Subchondral Sclerosis and Hypertrophy in Patients with Idiopathic Adolescent Scoliosis: Evaluation Using Finite Element Model and Surgical Specimen

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with thoracic curvature primarily progresses from the thoracolumbar region, causing abnormal twisting and rotation of the spinal column. This results in unbalanced, asymmetric loads on each vertebrae and increased demands on the thoracic facet joints to withstand rotational stress from adjacent vertebrae. However, no studies have focused on the stress distribution on the facet joints of the thoracic spine in patients with AIS. This study aimed to investigate the mechanical loading and its distribution on the thoracic facet joints of AIS patients using finite element (FE) analysis and surgical specimens. FE models of the thoracic spine were created from a total of 13 female AIS patients (Lenke type 1, n = 4; Lenke type 2, n = 4; Lenke type 3, n = 5). A load of 200 N on the T3 vertebrae and 30 N each on the bilateral superior articular processes were applied vertically to quantify the contact force on the facet joints from T3 to T11. In addition, morphological and histological analyses were performed on the inferior articular processes obtained during surgery. FE analysis demonstrated that contact forces of the facet joint progressively increased from the mid to lower thoracic spine of the concave side, reaching a maximum around the apex. More than 91% of the load was transmitted by the facet joints at the concave side, resulting in facet joint subchondral sclerosis and hypertrophy. The apical facet joint in AIS helps counteract rotational stress between vertebrae and transfers most stress through the concave side. In conclusion, this study found that asymmetric load transfer in the facet joints leads to subchondral sclerosis and hypertrophy. These findings can enhance our understanding of the stress loading on facet joints and the resulting biological changes and help clarify the mechanisms involved in scoliosis progression. © 2023 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

What Types of Strategies Are Effective in Lumbar Spine Surgery? Considering the Etiology, Imaging Findings, and Risk of Complications

Lumbar spine surgery is commonly performed worldwide for the treatment of lumbar spinal disorder, and the surgery saves many patients with lower back and lower extremity pain [...].