Scientists have found that tiny changes in the way genes work can make the cushions between our back bones harden. When those cushions, called spinal discs, become stiff, they cause neck and back pain.
To study this, researchers used zebrafish – a small, transparent fish that grows quickly. They turned off a gene that helps build a protein called collagen IX. Without this gene, the fish’s spine started to look like a human back with disc disease.
As the fish got older, the bones in its spine fused together. Tiny mineral crystals built up in the space between the bones, making the tissue unusually hard. The scientists saw that the hardening didn’t happen right away. First, a supportive layer inside the spine broke down, and then the minerals started to collect.
When the team checked which genes were more or less active, they found problems with how the fish handled fat, how it managed growth signals (the mTOR pathway), how it controlled phosphate, and how vitamin A signals worked. All of these processes are known to affect mineral buildup.
Next, they tested several ways to stop the spine from hardening. A medicine called a bisphosphonate – already used to treat osteoporosis – blocked the mineral deposits. Giving the fish less food or using drugs that slow down fat processing also reduced the spine’s stiffness.
These findings point to two promising areas for new medicines: controlling phosphate levels and adjusting fat metabolism. Both could help keep spinal discs flexible and lessen chronic back pain.
The study was funded by Arthritis UK and the BBSRC and appeared in the journal Communications Biology. Lead researcher Dr. Erika Kague said the work offers fresh hope for treating disc disease without surgery, especially because the drug they tested is already known to be safe for people.
Experts from Arthritis UK and the BBSRC highlighted that this research shows how public funding can turn basic science into real health solutions, potentially helping millions who suffer from back pain every day.