Lactate's role in age-related spinal disc degeneration
Metabolic Symbiosis: Lactate as an Epigenetic Regulator and a Biofuel in Age-dependent Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
This project seeks to find out whether lactate acts as both a fuel and a chemical switch that changes gene activity in aging spinal discs to help people with disc degeneration and back pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168909 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers will study how the inner and outer parts of spinal discs share and use lactate as an energy source and how lactate changes gene activity through chemical tags on DNA-packaging proteins. They will use laboratory tests on disc cells and tissues, including measurements of energy use and epigenetic marks, and compare younger versus older discs. The team may analyze human disc samples and lab models to link lactate-driven changes with the processes that lead to disc breakdown and pain. Results are intended to reveal biological targets that might be used to slow or reverse age-related disc degeneration.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with age-related intervertebral disc degeneration or chronic degenerative back pain, especially those undergoing spine surgery or willing to provide tissue or participate in related clinical studies, would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients whose pain comes from non-degenerative causes (recent injury, infection, inflammatory arthritis) or who cannot provide tissue or attend study visits are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that target lactate metabolism or its epigenetic effects to slow or reverse disc degeneration and reduce back pain.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory studies have recently shown lactate can fuel cells and modify histones, but applying these findings to age-related disc degeneration is a novel and early-stage direction.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vo, Nam V — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Vo, Nam V
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.