TonEBP-deficiency accelerates intervertebral disc degeneration underscored by matrix remodeling, cytoskeletal rearrangements, and changes in proinflammatory gene expression

The tonicity-responsive enhancer binding protein (TonEBP) plays an important role in intervertebral disc and axial skeleton embryogenesis. However, the contribution of this osmoregulatory transcription factor in postnatal intervertebral disc homeostasis is not known in vivo. Here, we show for the first time that TonEBP-deficient mice have pronounced age-related degeneration of the intervertebral disc with annular and endplate herniations. Using...