Similarly, Tie2 expression considerably decreases with IVD degeneration, demonstrating an average positivity of approximately 14% for grade III IVDs and less than 2.5% positivity for grade IV IVDs.8 As the IVD tissue applied for research purposes is commonly explanted during surgery as part of a treatment of IVD degeneration or scoliosis, or as postmortem explantation, it is most likely to be prone to low Tie2+ rates. The gene discussed is TEK; the disease is scoliosis.