Molecular Mechanisms and Targeted Therapeutic Strategies in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

ABSTRACT

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is recognized as a predominant causative factor for chronic low back pain, representing a major clinical challenge in aging societies. The degenerative cascade involves complex interactions among multiple pathological mechanisms, encompassing cellular senescence, inflammatory amplification, oxidative damage, metabolic dysregulation, and aberrant biomechanical loading. This review comprehensively delineates the molecular network underlying IVDD pathogenesis, with particular emphasis on emerging mechanisms such as epigenetic modifications, mitochondrial dysfunction, and programmed cell death pathways. Furthermore, we critically evaluate cutting-edge therapeutic approaches targeting these pathological processes, including bioactive molecular interventions, CRISPR-based gene editing applications, and tissue-engineered regeneration strategies. The synthesized evidence provides a mechanistic framework for developing precision medicine interventions and highlights promising translational research directions in disc degeneration management. studies confirm that a significant proportion of the general