Metabolic reprogramming in intervertebral disc degeneration: mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities (opens in new tab)

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a major cause of chronic low back pain and disability and imposes a substantial socioeconomic burden. Increasing evidence indicates that metabolic reprogramming is closely involved in the initiation and progression of IVDD. In this review, we summarize the major pathological processes associated with IVDD, including apoptosis, autophagy dysregulation, oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. We further dis...