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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Optical Sectioning and Visualization of the Intervertebral Disc from Embryonic Development to Degeneration
Published on: July 8, 2021
Current research on the role of HIF in intervertebral disc degeneration
Jiaji Miao1, Siyi Cai2, Qingqin Hou3
1People´s Hospital of Xizang Autonomous Region, Lhasa City, China.
Purpose:
Low back pain affects a large population globally, and intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is one of its major causes. This review aims to summarize the roles and molecular mechanisms of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) in IVDD progression, and provide theoretical support for developing precise treatment strategies for IVDD.
Methods:
We systematically retrieved, sorted and analyzed recent peer-reviewed studies concerning the association between HIF family members and IVDD.
Results:
IVDD involves complex pathological changes including hypoxic microenvironment imbalance, inflammatory responses, extracellular matrix (ECM) dysfunction and altered autophagy. HIFs, key oxygen-sensing regulators, exert bidirectional effects on IVDD: they can either alleviate or accelerate disc degeneration under different conditions.
Conclusion:
HIFs play a central regulatory role in IVDD. Targeting HIF-related pathways holds great potential for clinical translation, and further research is still required to clarify unresolved mechanisms.
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