Based on the gene array results, 12 targets (TRPC1, TRPC3, TRPC4, TRPC6, TRPM2, TRPM7, TRPML1, TRPML2, PKD1, TRPP1 (PKD2), TRPV1, TRPV4) were chosen for further analysis on the additional 26 IVD samples (8 non-degenerated IVDs: 4x NP and 4x AF; 18 degenerated: 8x AF, 8x NP, 2x mix tissue) using conventional qPCR (see Table 3). Here, TRPM7 is linked to atrial fibrillation.