FERMT2 and lumbar disk degenerative disorder: It is now widely believed that abnormal mechanical stress is one important contributor of IVDD.35,36 In human lumbar disc degenerative disease, the majority of spinal disc herniations occur in the lumbar spine at L4-S1 segments, which bear greater mechanical loading than other segments.37 Our in vitro gain- and loss-of-function studies demonstrate that either Kindlin-2 knockdown or CL treatment promotes ECM catabolism and cell apoptosis.