Novais EJ, Tran VA, Johnston SN, Darris KR, Roupas AJ, Sessions GA, Shapiro IM, Diekman BO, Risbud MV. Long-term treatment with senolytic drugs Dasatinib and Quercetin ameliorates age-dependent intervertebral disc degeneration in mice. Nature Commun. 2021;12(1):p.5213.

This study shows the importance of senescence as a key player in age-dependent intervertebral disc degeneration and highlights the use of senolytics to ameliorate it.

Madhu V, Boneski PB, Silagi E, Qiu Y, Kurland I, Guntur AR, Shapiro IM, Risbud MV. Hypoxic Regulation of Mitochondrial Metabolism and Mitophagy in Nucleus Pulposus Cells Is Depedent on HIF-1α-BNIP3 Axis. J Bone Miner Res. 2020;35: 1504-1524.

This study provides novel mechanistic insights into the complex interplay between hypoxia and HIF-1α signaling on the mitochondrial metabolism and quality control in NP cells. 

Novais EJ, Tran VA, Miao J, Slaver K, Sinensky A, Dyment N, Addya S, Szeri F, van de Wetering K, Shapiro IM, Risbud MV. Comparison of inbred mouse strains shows diverse phenotypic outcomes of intervertebral disc aging. Aging Cell. 2020;19(5):e13148. 

This study highlights the contribution of genetic background on disc aging and degeneration using murine models to recapitulate the wide spectrum of disc degeneration outcomes. 

Tessier S, Tran VA, Ottone OK, Novais EJ, Doolittle A, DiMuzio MJ, Shapiro IM, Risbud MV. TonEBP-deficiency accelerates intervertebral disc degeneration underscored by matrix remodeling, cytoskeletal rearrangements, and changes in proinflammatory gene expression. Matrix Biol. 2020;87:94-111. 

The results of this study provide the first in vivo support to the long-held hypothesis that TonEBP is crucial for postnatal homeostasis of the spine and controls a multitude of functions in addition to cellular osmoadaptation.

Silagi ES, Novais EJ, Bisetto S, Telonis AG, Snuggs J, Le Maitre CL, Qiu Y, Kurland IJ, Shapiro IM, Philp NJ, Risbud MV. Lactate Efflux From Intervertebral Disc Cells Is Required for Maintenance of Spine Health. J Bone Miner Res. 2020;35:550-570.

This study underscores the importance of preserving metabolic homeostasis, through coordinated H+/lactate transport through MCT4, for disc and vertebral bone health. 

Choi H, Tessier S, Silagi ES, Kyada R, Yousefi F, Pleshko N, Shapiro IM, Risbud MV. A novel mouse model of intervertebral disc degeneration shows altered cell fate and matrix homeostasis. Matrix Biol. 2018;70:102-122.

This study shows for the first time that SM/J mice exhibit spontaneous, early onset, degenerative changes in the disc that closely mimic human degeneration.