Transcriptomic study reveals asymmetric gene expression in paravertebral muscles of idiopathic scoliosis patients, suggesting a fetal developmental origin.
Key Points
Investigate gene expression profiles and cell-type heterogeneity across convex and concave paravertebral muscles to clarify the pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis.
Performed RNA sequencing, differential gene expression analysis, gene set enrichment analysis, and preoperative CT-derived Hounsfield unit density assessments.
Identified 22 differentially expressed genes between scoliosis cases and controls, and 16 differentially expressed genes between convex and concave curve sides across 14,212 analyzed genes.
Scoliosis cases showed reduced fetal muscle and immune cells, while the convex side exhibited increased fetal skeletal muscle cells alongside decreased fibro-adipogenic progenitors, endothelial cells, satellite cells, and myeloid cells, matching Hounsfield unit morphological asymmetry.