Open Access

The potential role and trend of HIF‑1α in intervertebral disc degeneration: Friend or foe? (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Yongjin Li
    • Shen Liu
    • Dayu Pan
    • Baoshan Xu
    • Xuewu Xing
    • Hengxing Zhou
    • Bin Zhang
    • Suzhe Zhou
    • Guangzhi Ning
    • Shiqing Feng
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 28, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2021.11878
  • Article Number: 239
  • Copyright: © Li et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Lower back pain (LBP) is one of the most common reasons for seeking medical advice in orthopedic clinics. Increasingly, research has shown that symptomatic intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is mostly related to LBP. This review first outlines the research and findings of studies into IDD, from the physiological structure of the intervertebral disc (IVD) to various pathological cascades. The vicious cycles of IDD are re‑described in relation to the analysis of the relationship among the pathological mechanisms involved in IDD. Interestingly, a ‘chief molecule’ was found, hypoxia‑inducible factor‑1α (HIF‑1α), that may regulate all other mechanisms involved in IDD. When the vicious cycle is established, the low oxygen tension activates the expression of HIF‑1α, which subsequently enters into the hypoxia‑induced HIF pathways. The HIF pathways are dichotomized as friend and foe pathways according to the oxygen tension of the IVD microenvironment. Combined with clinical outcomes and previous research, the trend of IDD development has been predicted in this paper. Lastly, an early precautionary diagnosis and treatment method is proposed whereby nucleus pulposus tissue for biopsy can be obtained through IVD puncture guided by B‑ultrasound when the patient is showing symptoms but MRI imaging shows negative results. The assessment criteria for biopsy and the feasibility, superiority and challenges of this approach have been discussed. Overall, it is clear that HIF‑1α is an indispensable reference indicator for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of IDD.
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April-2021
Volume 23 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Li Y, Liu S, Pan D, Xu B, Xing X, Zhou H, Zhang B, Zhou S, Ning G, Feng S, Feng S, et al: The potential role and trend of HIF‑1α in intervertebral disc degeneration: Friend or foe? (Review). Mol Med Rep 23: 239, 2021
APA
Li, Y., Liu, S., Pan, D., Xu, B., Xing, X., Zhou, H. ... Feng, S. (2021). The potential role and trend of HIF‑1α in intervertebral disc degeneration: Friend or foe? (Review). Molecular Medicine Reports, 23, 239. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2021.11878
MLA
Li, Y., Liu, S., Pan, D., Xu, B., Xing, X., Zhou, H., Zhang, B., Zhou, S., Ning, G., Feng, S."The potential role and trend of HIF‑1α in intervertebral disc degeneration: Friend or foe? (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 23.4 (2021): 239.
Chicago
Li, Y., Liu, S., Pan, D., Xu, B., Xing, X., Zhou, H., Zhang, B., Zhou, S., Ning, G., Feng, S."The potential role and trend of HIF‑1α in intervertebral disc degeneration: Friend or foe? (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 23, no. 4 (2021): 239. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2021.11878