Figure 2.

The similar pathological processes between IVDD and OA, and the role of mitophagy in the pathogenesis of IVDD and OA. There exist similar pathological processes between IVDD and OA in term of mitochondria dysfunction, oxidative stress, senescence, cell apoptosis, and ECM degradation of cartilage-resident cells including NP cells and chondrocytes. During the development of IVDD and OA, mitophagy is activated to clear dysfunctional mitochondria and involved in these pathological processes