Mohawk promotes the maintenance and regeneration of the outer annulus fibrosus of intervertebral discs.

Homeobox protein Mohwak (Mkx) is involved in tendon and ligament development. Here the authors show that Mkx in the outer annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc plays a role in maintenance of the IVD, showing that stem cells overexpressing Mkx enhance therapeutic IVD regeneration in mice.