Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a prevalent global spinal disease causing significant low back pain. This review explores the role of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) signaling pathway in IDD pathogenesis. The p38 MAPK pathway is implicated in inflammation, extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, apoptosis, senescence, proliferation, oxidative stress, and autophagy within the intervertebral disc. Understanding the p38 MAPK pathway's role may reveal potential therapeutic targets for IDD.
