Nrf2 drives oxidative stress-induced autophagy in nucleus pulposus cells via a Keap1/Nrf2/p62 feedback loop to protect intervertebral disc from degeneration

-induced oxidative stress were increased in autophagy-deficient cells via reduced expression of Atg7 and the Keap1-Nrf2-p62 autophagy pathway. Taken together, these results suggest that excessive oxidative stress causes the upregulation of autophagy, and autophagy acts as an antioxidant feedback response activated by a Keap1-Nrf2-p62 feedback loop in IVD degeneration.