The effect of melatonin on the proliferation of chondrocytes in the growth plate of the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients

English Keywords:Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis  Melatonin  Proliferation  Growth plate chondrocytes

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objectives：To identify the effect of melatonin on the proliferation of chondrocytes in the growth plate of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis(AIS) patients，and to explore the role of melatonin in the etiopathogenesis of AIS. Methods: The chondrocytes derived from iliac growth plate of 15 AIS patients and 6 controls were cultured in monolayer and passaged. The growth plate chondrocytes at the end of second passage were cultured with melatonin for 3 consecutive days and reached the final concentration of 0M, 10-11M, 10-9M, 10-7M, 10-5M. The chondrocytes proliferation was investigated based on ELLSA after the cells incubated with Brdu for 12 hours. Optical density(OD) value was measured by microplate reader at the wavelength of 450nm. Results: After the treatment of melatonin, the OD value of the normal growth plate chondrocytes increased by (5.7±6.7)%, (32.1±11.1)%, (57.5±11.9)%, (103.2±16.2)%(P<0.05) respectively, and the OD value of the AIS growth plate chondrocytes increased by (-0.3±22.3)%, (5.8±29.9)%, (12.7±36.1)%, (10.2±44.0)%(P>0.05) respectively. Conclusions: The proliferation of chondrocytes of growth plate can be promoted by melatonin in the normal group but not in the AIS group, which suggests that the abnormal process of endochondral ossification regulated by the melatonin may contribute to the onset and progression of AIS.