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Genetics of disc degeneration

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Abstract

Low back pain from degenerative disc disease (DDD) is one of the most common disorders seen in general and orthopaedic practices. DDD has been attributed to the accumulation of environmental factors, primarily mechanical insults and injuries, imposed on the “normal” aging changes. However, recent studies have shown an association between genetic influences and disc degeneration, with risk of developing DDD quoted to be increased up to six times that of the general population. It is likely that DDD is a complex, multifactorial disease determined by the interplay between gene(s) and the environment. This review focuses on the evidence for genetic disposition, the genes or biological processes that are implicated, and the need to consolidate resources and clarify phenotype definition to take advantage of the new technologies in genetic analysis to enhance our understanding of this condition.

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Acknowledgments

Some of the work described in this manuscript was partially supported by grants from the Research Grant Council of Hong Kong (HKU7230/01M) and (HKU7509/03M) and by grant MH44292 from the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health, and the Area of Excellence Award on Developmental Genomics and Skeletal Research (AoE/M-04/04).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Danny Chan & Youqiang Song

  2. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong Medical Centre, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Youqiang Song & Kenneth M. C. Cheung

  3. Genome Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Youqiang Song & Pak Sham

  4. Institute of Psychiatry, London University, London, UK

    Pak Sham

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  1. Danny Chan
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  4. Kenneth M. C. Cheung
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Correspondence to Kenneth M. C. Cheung.

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Chan, D., Song, Y., Sham, P. et al. Genetics of disc degeneration. Eur Spine J 15 (Suppl 3), 317–325 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-006-0171-3

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