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Disc degeneration: a potential defense against damaged discs Molecules that counteract metabolic abnormalities in spinal tissue could help treat lower back pain associated with disc degeneration. In this condition, the cells that form the discs experience heightened oxidative stress, wherein mitochondria produce high levels of toxic compounds. Researchers in China led by Xiangyang Wang of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and Xiaolei Zhang of the Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics have identified a molecular target that may enable doctors to prevent this damage. They determined that a protein called SIRT3 plays a critical role in mitigating oxidative stress, and that its loss renders stressed disc tissue especially vulnerable. The researchers also found that honokiol—a SIRT3-activating compound derived from magnolia tree bark—effectively prevents disc degeneration in rats. A similar treatment strategy could potentially prove beneficial in human patients.