Temple, Texas-based Baylor Scott and White Health researchers studied the spine's soft tissues disc breakdown.
Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine published the study.
Here are five takeaways:
1. Researchers developed an overexpression of the gene SMURF2, which is involved in tumor formation as well as disease progression.
2. The study dove into the molecular mechanisms complicit in the breakdown of the spine's soft tissue discs.
3. With the knowledge of molecular pathways that lead to disc degradation, researchers will be able to create therapies to block these mechanisms or encourage repair.
4. This study propels more than three years of SMURF2 research forward.
5. Researchers are currently working on the next phase of the study, which will focus on human tissue.