Ageing research reviewsDec 19, 2024

How disrupted body clocks may lead to spine disc breakdown through the body's stress nerve system

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Mar 29, 2026

Abstract

Circadian disturbances may contribute to low back pain (LBP) associated with intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD).

The circadian clock regulates various physiological processes in the human body on a 24-hour cycle.
Intervertebral discs (IVDs) show rhythmic behaviors, with changes in osmotic pressure and hydration aligned with daily activity patterns.
Recent advancements in molecular biology have revealed a link between circadian molecules and the maintenance of IVD health.
Disruption of circadian rhythms is increasingly recognized as a factor in the development of IVDD.
The sympathetic nervous system may mediate the effects of circadian rhythm disruption on IVD integrity.
There is potential for chronotherapy to be an effective strategy for treating IVDD and alleviating LBP.

Simplified

The circadian clock orchestrates a broad spectrum of physiological processes, crucially modulating human biology across an approximate 24-hour cycle. The circadian disturbances precipitated by modern lifestyle contribute to the occurrence of low back pain (LBP), mainly ascribed to intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). The intervertebral disc (IVD) exhibits rhythmic physiological behaviors, with fluctuations in osmotic pressure and hydration levels that synchronized with the diurnal cycle of activity and rest. Over recent decades, advanced molecular biology techniques have shed light on the association between circadian molecules and IVD homeostasis. The complex interplay between circadian rhythm disruption and IVDD is becoming increasingly evident, with the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) emerging as a potential mediator. Synchronized with circadian rhythm through suprachiasmatic nucleus, the SNS regulates diverse physiological functions and metabolic processes, profoundly influences the structural and functional integrity of the IVD. This review synthesizes the current understanding of circadian regulation and sympathetic innervation of the IVD, highlighting advancements in the comprehension of their interactions. We elucidate the impact of circadian system on the physiological functions of IVD through the SNS, advocating for the adoption of chronotherapy as a brand-new and effective strategy to ameliorate IVDD and alleviate LBP.

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Competing interests

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests. Liu Hongjian reports administrative support was provided by National Natural Science Foundation of China. Lv Xiao reports writing assistance was provided by National Natural Science Foundation of China. Chen Songfeng reports writing assistance was provided by National Natural Science Foundation of China. Chen Songfeng reports article publishing charges was provided by Henan Province Natural Science Foundation. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

PubMed

How disrupted body clocks may lead to spine disc breakdown through the body's stress nerve system

Abstract

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