Targeting Autophagy for Developing New Therapeutic Strategy in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Md Entaz Bahar,
Jin Seok Hwang,
Mahmoud Ahmed,
Trang Huyen Lai,
Trang Minh Pham,
Omar Elashkar,
Kazi-Marjahan Akter,
Dong-Hee Kim,
Jinsung Yang,
Deok Ryong Kim
Affiliations
Md Entaz Bahar
Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
Jin Seok Hwang
Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
Mahmoud Ahmed
Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
Trang Huyen Lai
Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
Trang Minh Pham
Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
Omar Elashkar
Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
Kazi-Marjahan Akter
College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, GyeongNam, Korea
Dong-Hee Kim
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University Hospital and Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
Jinsung Yang
Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
Deok Ryong Kim
Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a prevalent cause of low back pain. IVDD is characterized by abnormal expression of extracellular matrix components such as collagen and aggrecan. In addition, it results in dysfunctional growth, senescence, and death of intervertebral cells. The biological pathways involved in the development and progression of IVDD are not fully understood. Therefore, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying IVDD could aid in the development of strategies for prevention and treatment. Autophagy is a cellular process that removes damaged proteins and dysfunctional organelles, and its dysfunction is linked to a variety of diseases, including IVDD and osteoarthritis. In this review, we describe recent research findings on the role of autophagy in IVDD pathogenesis and highlight autophagy-targeting molecules which can be exploited to treat IVDD. Many studies exhibit that autophagy protects against and postpones disc degeneration. Further research is needed to determine whether autophagy is required for cell integrity in intervertebral discs and to establish autophagy as a viable therapeutic target for IVDD.
