TNF and intervertebral disk degenerative disorder: However, during degenerative disc disease progression, excessive apoptotic cascade activation disrupts extracellular matrix architecture via accelerated proteoglycan depletion and collagen network disorganization, ultimately manifesting as disc height reduction, mechanical instability, and nociceptive signaling amplification through pro-inflammatory cytokine release (e.g., IL-1β, TNF-α) and nerve ingrowth potentiation.