Zinc regulates microglial polarization and inflammation through IKBα after spinal cord injury and promotes neuronal repair and motor function recovery in mice
IntroductionSpinal cord injury (SCI) leads to severe inflammation and neuronal damage, resulting in permanent loss of motor and sensory functions. Zinc ions have shown potential in modulating inflammation and cellular survival, making them a promising therapeutic approach for SCI. This study investi...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1510372/full |
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| author | Daoyong Li Daoyong Li Mingyu Bai Mingyu Bai Zhanpeng Guo Yang Cui Yang Cui Xifan Mei Xifan Mei He Tian He Tian Zhaoliang Shen |
| author_facet | Daoyong Li Daoyong Li Mingyu Bai Mingyu Bai Zhanpeng Guo Yang Cui Yang Cui Xifan Mei Xifan Mei He Tian He Tian Zhaoliang Shen |
| author_sort | Daoyong Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionSpinal cord injury (SCI) leads to severe inflammation and neuronal damage, resulting in permanent loss of motor and sensory functions. Zinc ions have shown potential in modulating inflammation and cellular survival, making them a promising therapeutic approach for SCI. This study investigates the mechanisms of zinc ion treatment in SCI, focusing on its effects on inflammation.MethodsWe used transcriptomic analysis to identify key pathways and genes involved in the inflammatory response in a mouse model of SCI. In vitro studies assessed the impact of zinc ions on inflammation, cell polarization, and apoptosis. IKBα expression was evaluated as a potential target of zinc ions, both in cultured cells and in vivo.ResultsTranscriptomic analysis revealed that zinc ions modulate inflammatory pathways through IKBα, which inhibits NF-κB activity. In vitro, zinc treatment upregulated IKBα expression, reducing inflammation, polarization, and apoptosis. These results were confirmed in the SCI mouse model, where zinc ions also reduced inflammation and cell death.DiscussionOur findings highlight a novel mechanism by which zinc ions regulate inflammation in SCI by upregulating IKBα and inhibiting NF-κB activation. This suggests potential therapeutic applications of zinc ions in SCI and other inflammatory conditions, warranting further investigation into their clinical benefits. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bdf19e4ff42e4f5fb00d8c5c33055a23 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1663-9812 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| spelling | doaj-art-bdf19e4ff42e4f5fb00d8c5c33055a232025-01-29T05:21:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-01-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15103721510372Zinc regulates microglial polarization and inflammation through IKBα after spinal cord injury and promotes neuronal repair and motor function recovery in miceDaoyong Li0Daoyong Li1Mingyu Bai2Mingyu Bai3Zhanpeng Guo4Yang Cui5Yang Cui6Xifan Mei7Xifan Mei8He Tian9He Tian10Zhaoliang Shen11The Third Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou City, Liaoning, ChinaKey Laboratory of Liaoning Medical Organization Engineering, Jinzhou, Liaoning, ChinaThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou City, Liaoning, ChinaKey Laboratory of Liaoning Medical Organization Engineering, Jinzhou, Liaoning, ChinaKey Laboratory of Liaoning Medical Organization Engineering, Jinzhou, Liaoning, ChinaThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou City, Liaoning, ChinaKey Laboratory of Liaoning Medical Organization Engineering, Jinzhou, Liaoning, ChinaThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou City, Liaoning, ChinaKey Laboratory of Liaoning Medical Organization Engineering, Jinzhou, Liaoning, ChinaKey Laboratory of Liaoning Medical Organization Engineering, Jinzhou, Liaoning, ChinaSchool of Basic Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, ChinaThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou City, Liaoning, ChinaIntroductionSpinal cord injury (SCI) leads to severe inflammation and neuronal damage, resulting in permanent loss of motor and sensory functions. Zinc ions have shown potential in modulating inflammation and cellular survival, making them a promising therapeutic approach for SCI. This study investigates the mechanisms of zinc ion treatment in SCI, focusing on its effects on inflammation.MethodsWe used transcriptomic analysis to identify key pathways and genes involved in the inflammatory response in a mouse model of SCI. In vitro studies assessed the impact of zinc ions on inflammation, cell polarization, and apoptosis. IKBα expression was evaluated as a potential target of zinc ions, both in cultured cells and in vivo.ResultsTranscriptomic analysis revealed that zinc ions modulate inflammatory pathways through IKBα, which inhibits NF-κB activity. In vitro, zinc treatment upregulated IKBα expression, reducing inflammation, polarization, and apoptosis. These results were confirmed in the SCI mouse model, where zinc ions also reduced inflammation and cell death.DiscussionOur findings highlight a novel mechanism by which zinc ions regulate inflammation in SCI by upregulating IKBα and inhibiting NF-κB activation. This suggests potential therapeutic applications of zinc ions in SCI and other inflammatory conditions, warranting further investigation into their clinical benefits.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1510372/fullspinal cord injuryzincmicroglial polarizationinflammatory responsefunctional recovery |
| spellingShingle | Daoyong Li Daoyong Li Mingyu Bai Mingyu Bai Zhanpeng Guo Yang Cui Yang Cui Xifan Mei Xifan Mei He Tian He Tian Zhaoliang Shen Zinc regulates microglial polarization and inflammation through IKBα after spinal cord injury and promotes neuronal repair and motor function recovery in mice Frontiers in Pharmacology spinal cord injury zinc microglial polarization inflammatory response functional recovery |
| title | Zinc regulates microglial polarization and inflammation through IKBα after spinal cord injury and promotes neuronal repair and motor function recovery in mice |
| title_full | Zinc regulates microglial polarization and inflammation through IKBα after spinal cord injury and promotes neuronal repair and motor function recovery in mice |
| title_fullStr | Zinc regulates microglial polarization and inflammation through IKBα after spinal cord injury and promotes neuronal repair and motor function recovery in mice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Zinc regulates microglial polarization and inflammation through IKBα after spinal cord injury and promotes neuronal repair and motor function recovery in mice |
| title_short | Zinc regulates microglial polarization and inflammation through IKBα after spinal cord injury and promotes neuronal repair and motor function recovery in mice |
| title_sort | zinc regulates microglial polarization and inflammation through ikbα after spinal cord injury and promotes neuronal repair and motor function recovery in mice |
| topic | spinal cord injury zinc microglial polarization inflammatory response functional recovery |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1510372/full |
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