Normal expression of melatonin receptors (MT1, MT2) in BMSCs from adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients and its significance

A melatonin deficiency has been suggested being at the source of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, the relevance of melatonin in the etiopathogenesis of that condition is controversial. There is evidence shows melatonin signaling dysfunction in osteoblast from adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. But no study investigates melatonin signaling pathway in BMSCs. To study melatonin receptors (MT1, MT2) expression and to explore its significance in BMSCs from AIS patients. Eighteen AIS patients and ten volunteers were included. From anterior superior iliac spine, the human bone marrow was obtained with anticoagulation by heparine. And the MSCs were isolated by density gradient centrifuge from the mononuclear cells, and then were cultivated and serial subcultivated in vitro. Expression intensity of melatonin receptors(MT1, MT2) of BMSCs from the two groups was detected by RT-PCR. Flow cytometry demonstrated that the expanded mononuclear cells expressed mesenchymal stem cell markers. There was no statistical difference of melatonin receptors expression in BMSCs between AIS group and the controls (P>0.05). Melatonin receptors expression in BMSCs from adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients is normal, which provides foundation for further study of melatonin signaling pathway in BMSCs.