Consistent with Yurube’s study41, the upregulation of the expression of ECM catabolism enzymes (MMPs and ADAMTSs) and the downregulation of the expression of anabolism genes (ACAN, COL2A1, and SOX9) were observed in IDD in our compression-induced degeneration model. This evidence concerns the gene SOX9 and intervertebral disk degenerative disorder.