Huang B, et al. - Authors quantified the data to examine the consequences of supplemental alpha-2 macroglobulin (α2 M) on cartilaginous endplates (CEPs) to affect the progress of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. They noted an increase in the level of α2 M in CEP with a sharp elevation of matrix metalloproteinase 13(MMP-13) as compared with normal CEP. They observed stimulation of α2 M inhibited expression and activity of MMP-3 or MMP-13 in a dose-dependent manner in rat CEP cells by TNF-α. They noted a decline in supplemental α2 M reduced expression of MMP-13 and elevation in the expression of Sox9, aggrecan, and type II collagen in CEP area of ex vivo IVDs cultured with TNF-α