Objective: To observe the characteristics of gene expression of type X collagen in the cartilage of end-plate and the fibrous annulus in the intervertebral disc of idiopathic scoliosis (IS) patients.
Method: Investigating the expression of type X collagen in the peak disc and the lower end disc of 21 IS patients, the peak disc of 16 congenital scoliosis (CS) and the lumbar disc of 3 normal people (according with the principle of medical ethnics) by reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction.
Results: The expression of type X collagen in the concave side of IS peak disc was higher than the convex side (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of gene expression of type X collagen between the convex side and the concave side of the lower end disc (P > 0.05). The gene expression of type X collagen in the IS peak disc was higher than those of lower end disc (P < 0.05). For the CS peak discs, the expression of type X collagen of the concave side was higher than the convex side (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The expression of type X collagen of the IS peak disc increases, and the expression of type X collagen of the concave side is higher than the convex side. These changes may be secondary.