ACAN and atrial fibrillation: To determine the influence of static or complex dynamic loading regimes on the gene expression of NP and AF tissue, genes considered as key players of the Hippo-YAP/TAZ pathway (YAP, TAZ, LATS1, and MST1) IVD-related markers of ECM synthesis (ACAN, COL1, and COL2), ECM degradation (ADAMTS4, MMP13, and MMP3), mechanosensitivity (COMP and CILP), as well as the presence of inflammation markers (COX2, MCP1, and RANTES) were analysed.