This finding indicates that chondrocyte hypertrophy and catabolism are induced by aberrant Hif1α activation, which plays important roles in DDD development.25 Treatment with AZD7545 alleviated the increased expression levels of Runx2, Mmp13, Adamts5, and Col10a1 in Vhl-deficient RCS cells (Fig. 7b–e). This evidence concerns the gene HIF1A and Dowling-Degos disease 1.