More importantly, microfilaments provide the viscoelastic properties of the chondrocyte, and changes in the structures and properties of these cytoskeleton elements may reflect changes in the chondrocyte with osteoarthritis.26 β-Actin had altered architectures and expression levels in NP cells from young and skeletally mature IVD.12 Together, these findings suggest that leptin induces F-actin remodeling and increase mRNA and protein expression of β-actin and may act as a mediator for transducting mechanical signals and has a potential role in intervertebral disc degeneration. The gene discussed is LEP; the disease is osteoarthritis.