Background: The results of studies investigating the association between the ladybird homeobox 1 (LBX1) gene polymorphisms and the risk of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) are not all the same. As such, we performed a meta-analysis to estimate the association between LBX1 gene polymorphisms and AIS susceptibility.
Methods: Relevant studies published before 15 November 2015 were identified by searching PubMed, EMBASE, ISI web of knowledge, EBSCO, CNKI and CBM. The strength of relationship was assessed by using odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence interval (CI).
Results: A total number of eight case-control studies including 10,088 cases and 24,538 controls were identified. The results showed that T allele of rs111090870 increased AIS susceptibility in Asians (T vs. C, OR = 1.22, 95 % CI: 1.16-1.29, P < 0.001), Caucasians (T vs. C, OR = 1.17, 95 % CI: 1.14-1.21, P < 0.001) and in female (T vs. C, OR = 1.21, 95 % CI: 1.17-1.25, P < 0.001). The G allele of rs678741 decreased AIS risk in female (G vs. A, OR = 0.83, 95 % CI: 0.81-0.85, P < 0.001), and the G allele of the rs625039 increased AIS susceptibility in Asians (G vs. A, OR = 1.14, 95 % CI: 1.11-1.17, P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Our meta-analysis provides evidence that rs111090870, rs678741 and rs625039 polymorphisms near LBX1 gene are associated with AIS susceptibility in some populations. However, our findings are based on only a limited number of studies.
Keywords: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis; Gene polymorphism; LBX1 gene; Meta-analysis.