A comparison between normal and degenerated human cartilaginous endplates (CEP) tissues from individuals with idiopathic scoliosis and IDD, respectively, revealed lower levels of aggrecan, collagen II, TGF-β and ERα, but higher amounts of MMP-3, adamts-5, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and miR-221 in degenerated CEP tissues. The gene discussed is ESR1; the disease is intervertebral disk degenerative disorder.