Abnormal functional responses of osteoblasts to leptin in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Objective Leptin has been postulated as one of the etiologic factors of AIS because of its important physiological functions in neuro-osseous development affecting skeletal growth, the onset of puberty, energy expenditure and body composition. Previous studies on the relationship between leptin and HR-pQCT derived bone quality parameters had found abnormal correlations in AIS girls, and suggested possible abnormalities in the leptin regulated bone metabolic pathways. Another study on AIS patients showed hyposensitivity to leptin in bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells This study aimed to investigate the effect of leptin on the functional responses of osteoblasts in AIS girls, and compare with that of controls.