AF	annulus fibrous
AI	artificial intelligence
AMPK	AMP-activated protein kinase
Bax	BCL-2-associated X protein
BC	bacterial cellulose
BCL-2	B-cell lymphoma 2
BMAC	bone marrow aspirate concentrate
BMP	bone morphogenetic protein
CCL-5	C-C motif chemokine ligand 5
CEP	cartilaginous endplates
cGAS	cyclic GMP–AMP
E2	17β-estradiol
ECM	extracellular matrix
ERK	extracellular signal-regulated kinase
ESC	embryonic stem cells
GAG	glycosaminoglycan
GDF-5	growth differentiation factor 5
GMP	good manufacturing practice
IDD	intervertebral disc degeneration
IFN-γ	interferon-gamma
IGF-1	insulin-like growth factor 1
IL	interleukin
iPSC	induced pluripotent stem cells
IVD	intervertebral disc
LBP	low back pain
LC3	light chain 3
MAPK	mitogen-activated protein kinase
ML	machine learning
MLK3	mixed-lineage protein kinase 3
MMP	matrix metalloproteinase
MSC	mesenchymal stem cells
mtROS	mitochondrial ROS
MVB	multivesicular bodies
NF-κB	nuclear factor kappa B
NLRP3	NLR family pyrin domain containing 3
NP	nucleus pulpous
Nrf-2	nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2
p-Akt	phosphorylated Akt
PCL	poly(caprolactone)
PDGF	platelet-derived growth factor
P-GSK-3β	phospho-glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta
PHEMA	poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate)
PI3K/Akt	phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B
PLA	polylactic acid
P-mTOR	phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin
PRP	platelet-rich-plasma
PVA	polyvinyl alcohol
RANKL	receptor activators for nuclear factor-κB ligand
REC	rapidly expanding clone
rhGDF-5	recombinant human GDF-5
ROS	reactive oxygen species
SCN	stem cell niche
SDF-1	stromal-cell-derived factor-1
SERM	selective estrogen receptor modulators
SIRT1	sirtuin 1
Sox	SRY-Box Transcription Factor
Sphk2	sphingosine kinase 2
STING	stimulator of interferon genes
TDR	total disc replacement
TGF-β	transforming growth factor beta
TNF-α	tumor necrosis factor-alpha
TRAP	tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase