Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 1, 2026

A Proinflammatory, Degenerative Organ Culture Model to Simulate Early-Stage Intervertebral Disc Disease.
05:46

A Proinflammatory, Degenerative Organ Culture Model to Simulate Early-Stage Intervertebral Disc Disease.

Published on: February 14, 2021

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Targeting Inflammatory Cell Death: A Strategy for Discogenic Pain Relief

Li Wang1, Yuheng Zhang1, Huaqiang Tao2

  • 1Anesthesiology Department, Suzhou Municipal Hospital (North District), Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Suzhou Hospital, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.

Journal of Pain Research
|April 30, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) pain involves programmed cell death pathways like pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and necroptosis. Targeting these pathways offers new therapeutic strategies for discogenic pain relief.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Science
  • Cell Biology
  • Pain Research

Background:

  • Low back pain from intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a significant clinical issue.
  • Mechanisms of IVDD and associated pain are not fully understood.
  • Inflammatory programmed cell death pathways, including pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and necroptosis, are implicated in IVDD progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the mechanisms of pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and necroptosis in IVDD.
  • To explain the activation of these cell death pathways in different intervertebral disc regions.
  • To summarize therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways for discogenic pain.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of programmed cell death mechanisms in IVDD.
  • Analysis of how pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and necroptosis contribute to pain.
  • Summary of potential therapeutic interventions targeting these cell death pathways.

Main Results:

  • Pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and necroptosis contribute to IVDD and pain by altering the disc microenvironment.
  • These pathways release inflammatory factors and disrupt tissue structure.
  • Targeting these specific cell death mechanisms shows promise for pain alleviation.

Conclusions:

  • Novel cell death mechanisms are key drivers of IVDD-related pain.
  • Therapeutic strategies modulating pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and necroptosis offer potential for managing discogenic pain.
  • This review provides insights for future clinical management of IVDD pain.
Keywords:
ferroptosisintervertebral disc degenerationnecroptosispainpyroptosis

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