Analysis of Key Differential Metabolites in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Based on Untargeted Metabolomics

Background: Intervertebral disc degeneration disease (IVDD) is a prevalent orthopedic condition that causes chronic lower back pain, imposing a substantial economic burden on patients and society. Despite its high incidence, the pathophysiological mechanisms of IVDD remain incompletely understood.

Objective: This study aimed to identify metabolomic alterations in IVDD patients and explore the key metabolic pathways and metabolites involved in its pathogenesis.

Methods: Serum samples from 20 IVDD patients and 20 healthy controls were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS). The identified metabolites were mapped to metabolic pathways using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database.

Results: Significant alterations were observed in metabolites such as 2-methyl-1,3-cyclohexadiene, stearoyl sphingomyelin, methylcysteine, L-methionine, and cis, cis-muconic acid. These metabolites were involved in pathways including glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, cyanoamino acid metabolism, and the citrate cycle (TCA cycle).

Conclusion: The identified metabolic alterations provide insights into the pathogenesis of IVDD and suggest potential therapeutic targets for future investigation.