NR5A1 and atrial fibrillation: To validate the identified mitochondria dysfunction genes, we collected 36 human intervertebral disc tissues RNA including 12 from patients with degenerated discs of Pfirrmann level I or II and 24 from patients with degenerated discs of Pfirrmann level III to V. QPCR showed either in nucleus pulposus tissues or in anulus fibrous tissues, the mRNA levels of NR5A1 were upregulated in both degenerative NP tissues and AF tissues than in control groups.