Abstract
A defining characteristic of the Nucleus Pulposus (NP) and the inner AF is the very limited vascular supply and low pH that imposes metabolic constraints on the disc cells. Interference with the normal physiology of the NP niche, by activities linked to changes in oxygen diffusion across the endplate leads to dysregulated niche function. Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1) and HIF-2 are robustly and constitutively expressed by cells of the NP. Our recent work has shown that expression of HIF-1 is indispensable for NP cell survival in vivo and suggests an important role of HIF-1 in NP cell metabolic program. This talk will discuss central role of HIF-1 as metabolic and pH homeostatic regulator of NP cells and possible implication for a therapeutic strategy to treat disc degeneration
