Macrophage lipid overload drives disc degeneration via senescence-impaired efferocytosis, with MRI showing increased fat fraction

MRI shows increased disc fat fraction in advanced IVDD. Macrophage lipid overload induces senescence, impairing efferocytosis; rosuvastatin restored lipid homeostasis and reduced disc damage in a rat model.

• Advanced IVDD was associated with increased disc fat fraction on MRI and systemic lipid abnormalities.
• Macrophage lipid overload promoted senescence and impaired efferocytosis, which rosuvastatin reversed.
• Four lipid metabolism hub genes (TIAM2, SLC44A4, PPT1, PTGDS) were identified via machine learning.

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