ACAN and intervertebral disk degenerative disorder: In addition, the protein expression of NFAT5, cleaved caspase-3, Bax, MMP-3, and TIMP-1 was elevated while that of β-catenin, Bcl-2, ACAN, Col II, and SOX-9 was decreased in the IVD tissues of IDD mice (Figures 8(d)–8(f)).