Lack of Association Between the Promoter Polymorphisms of MMP-3 and IL-6 Genes and Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

The article provides information on a case-control study to replicate the association between the promoter polymorphisms of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 and interleukin (IL)-6 genes and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in a Chinese Han population. The study claimed that such genetic association would point to a primary degenerative defect in the disc or nucleus pulposus and inflammation as the key pathogenic mechanisms of AIS. However, it was unable to find any significant association of promoter polymorphism of the MMP-3 and IL-6 gene with AIS.