Excessive mechanical strain accelerates intervertebral disc degeneration by disrupting intrinsic circadian rhythm

• DOI: 10.1038/s12276-021-00716-6
• Publication Date: 2021-12-21T16:03:19Z
• Authors: Sheng-Long Ding; Tai-Wei Zhang; Qi-Chen Zhang; Wang Ding; Ze-Fang Li; Guan-Jie Han; Jin-Song Bai; Xi-Lei Li; Jian Dong; Hui-Ren Wang; Li-Bo Jiang
• Keywords: Degeneration (medical); Strain (injury); Intervertebral Disc; Mechanical load

Abstract Night shift workers with disordered rhythmic mechanical loading are more prone to intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Our results showed that circadian rhythm (CR) was dampened in degenerated and aged NP cells. Long-term environmental CR disruption promoted IDD rats. Excessive strain disrupted the inhibited expression of core clock proteins. The inhibitory effect on extracellular matrix genes could be reversed by BMAL1 overexpression Rho/ROCK pathway demonstrated mediate stimulation CR. Prolonged for 12 months affected intrinsic induced a model upright posture normal environment. Unexpectedly, further accelerated an Light-Dark (LD) cycle-disrupted These indicated might mechanism involved overloading-induced potential drug target night workers.