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Review
. 2023 Sep;56(9):e13448.
doi: 10.1111/cpr.13448. Epub 2023 Mar 13.

Oxidative stress in intervertebral disc degeneration: Molecular mechanisms, pathogenesis and treatment

Yidian Wang  1 , Huiguang Cheng  1 , Tao Wang  1 , Kun Zhang  1 , Yumin Zhang  1 , Xin Kang  1
Affiliations
Review

Oxidative stress in intervertebral disc degeneration: Molecular mechanisms, pathogenesis and treatment

Yidian Wang et al. Cell Prolif. 2023 Sep.

Abstract

Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of labour loss and disability worldwide, and it also imposes a severe economic burden on patients and society. Among symptomatic LBP, approximately 40% is caused by intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). IDD is the pathological basis of many spinal degenerative diseases such as disc herniation and spinal stenosis. Currently, the therapeutic approaches for IDD mainly include conservative treatment and surgical treatment, neither of which can solve the problem from the root by terminating the degenerative process of the intervertebral disc (IVD). Therefore, further exploring the pathogenic mechanisms of IDD and adopting targeted therapeutic strategies is one of the current research hotspots. Among the complex pathophysiological processes and pathogenic mechanisms of IDD, oxidative stress is considered as the main pathogenic factor. The delicate balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants is essential for maintaining the normal function and survival of IVD cells. Excessive ROS levels can cause damage to macromolecules such as nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins of cells, affect normal cellular activities and functions, and ultimately lead to cell senescence or death. This review discusses the potential role of oxidative stress in IDD to further understand the pathophysiological processes and pathogenic mechanisms of IDD and provides potential therapeutic strategies for the treatment of IDD.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
The pathogenic mechanisms of oxidative stress‐induced IDD.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
The imbalance of redox homeostasis in IVD cells. In the process of IVD degeneration, the main cell types in NP tissue changed from chondrocyte 1 to chondrocyte 2, chondrocyte 4 and chondrocyte 5. This transformation leads to a change in the main cell types responsible for maintaining redox balance in NP tissue, from chondrocyte 1 to chondrocyte 2, chondrocyte 4 and chondrocyte 5. Oxidative stress is caused by the imbalance between ROS production and clearance in DNP.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
The complex signal networks in degenerative IVD cells.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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