AIS	adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
CCN	cellular communication network factor
COL1A1	collagen type I alpha 1 chain
COL2A1	collagen type II alpha 1 chain
COL3A1	collagen type III alpha 1 chain
COL10A1	collagen type X alpha 1 chain
CTGF	connective tissue growth factor
DCN	decorin
ECM	extracellular matrix
ERC2	ELKS/RAB6-Interacting/CAST Family Member 2
EVG	Elastica van Gieson
HE	hematoxylin-eosin
IL	interleukin
LF	ligamentum flavum
MAFB	V-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog B
MMP2	matrix metalloproteinase 2
MRI	magnetic resonance imaging
PDGF	platelet-derived growth factor
qPCR	quantitative PCR (polymerase chain reaction)
SMAD3	SMAD family member 3
SNP	single nucleotide polymorphisms
SOX9	SRY (sex-determining region Y)-box 9
TGF	transforming growth factor-beta 1
TIMP2	TIMP (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases) metallopeptidase inhibitor 2
TNF	tumor necrosis factor
VEGF	vascular endothelial growth factor