The role and potential therapeutic intervention of cellular senescence in intervertebral disc degeneration

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a common cause of low back pain that causes significant debilitation. The intricate mechanisms governing intervertebral disc homeostasis are substantially impacted by cellular senescence, which plays crucial roles in both pathological and physiological contexts. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of cellular senescence in the pathogenesis of IDD. Specifically, we summarize the merits and limitations of the methodologies utilized in prior investigations to determine cellular senescence and the potential regulatory mechanisms underlying it in the progression of IDD. Furthermore, we describe therapeutic strategies that aim to inhibit cellular senescence, which may alleviate the pathogenesis of IDD. At last, we discuss the challenges and prospects of translational research on targeting cellular senescence in IDD treatment.