Among these genes, ADAM8 (A disintegrin and metalloproteinase) was found in IDD tissues (including both NP and AF tissues), and known to be responsible for FN cleavage (FN: fibronectin fragments which increase with the extent of disc degeneration and involved in the initiation of IDD progression) (Oegema et al. 2000; Ruel et al. 2014). Here, FN1 is linked to atrial fibrillation.