Their analysis reveiled six key regulators (Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Alpha Induced Protein 6 (TNFAIP6), Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), Keratin 19 (KRT19), Dermatopontin (DPT), Collagen Type VI Alpha 2 (COL6A2) and Collagen Type XI Alpha 2 (COL11A2)) with potential functional roles in the IDD process, and they identified two regulators already reported (KRT19, COL6A2) as important IDD markers in independent studies. This evidence concerns the gene CHI3L1 and intervertebral disk degenerative disorder.