MAPK signaling pathway in intervertebral disc degeneration
ZHAO Huan
ZUO Yuan
HAN Wen-yan
Abstract：Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a common degenerative disease that is the main cause of low back pain and seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Recent studies have shown that the pathology of IDD is driven by a vicious cycle of 'immune-metabolic-aging' interactions. This process is closely linked to multiple stressors that activate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which mediates ECM degradation, apoptosis, cellular senescence, autophagy, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis, thereby accelerating the progression of IDD. This article reviews the effects of MAPK activation on the pathological process of IDD and proposes potential therapeutic targets. The aim is to provide a reference for in-depth research on the mechanism of action of this signaling pathway and targeted therapy for IDD in the future.
Keywords：Mitogen-activated protein kinaseIntervertebral disc degenerationNucleus pulposusReview
Publication Date：2025-10-19
Online Publishing Date：2025-11-06(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 948-952 )