Abstract
BACKGROUND: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a prevalent degenerative disease, with low back pain as its primary clinical symptom, imposing significant burdens on individuals and society. With the aging population, IVDD is becoming an inevitable challenge. Current research indicates that the pathogenesis of IVDD is primarily driven by aging, mechanical stress, cell death, and genetics, leading to the loss of nucleus pulposus and degradation of the extracellular matrix within the intervertebral disc. OBJECTIVE: This review aims to explore the relationship between the mechanisms of ferroptosis and cuproptosis, two newly discovered modes of cell death, and their potential as therapeutic targets for IVDD. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive review of recent studies on ferroptosis and cuproptosis in IVDD, analyzing the mechanisms of these cell death patterns and their potential role in IVDD progression. RESULTS: Ferroptosis and cuproptosis have been found to be closely related to IVDD. These cell death modes are implicated in the pathological processes of IVDD, suggesting a potential link between their mechanisms and the disease's progression. CONCLUSION: The mechanisms of ferroptosis and cuproptosis are closely related to IVDD, and these pathways may be potential targets for IVDD treatment, providing new directions for clinical treatment of IVDD and future research.