Metformin activates the mitochondrial unfolded protein response via the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway to delay intervertebral disc degeneration.
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is associated with the loss of nucleus pulposus derived mesenchymal stem cell (NP-MSC) function, but the contribution of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) to this process is not well understood. We found that SIRT1 and the UPRmt-related proteins HSP60, ATF5, and...