CCN2 has also been ascribed a central role in intervertebral disc disease (IVD) which is the main cause of low back pain in adults (Matta et al. 2018; Wang et al. 2018): CCN2 downregulation associated with aging (Hyiama et al. 2018) and CCN2 notochord-specific knockout leads to precocious and more pronounced degeneration (Bedore et al. 2013). The gene discussed is CCN2; the disease is intervertebral disk degenerative disorder.