An emerging role of inflammasomes in spinal cord injury and spinal cord tumor

Spinal cord injury (SCI) and spinal cord tumor are devastating events that impair the spinal cord's structure and function, leading to sensory, motor, and autonomic dysfunction. Current treatments are limited, and the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Inflammasomes, intracellular multiprotein complexes, play a crucial role in neuroinflammation by activating caspase-1 and releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1b and IL-18). These cytokines mediate immune-inflammatory responses, further damaging the spinal cord. Targeting inflammasomes presents a promising therapeutic strategy for SCI and spinal cord tumors, offering a novel approach to mitigate damage and improve outcomes.

• 1
  SCI leads to primary physical injury followed by secondary injury caused by inflammation, ischemia, oxidative stress, axonal degeneration and glial scar formation.
• 2
  Inflammasomes, as innate immune sensors, are multiprotein complexes that play an essential role in defense against pathogens and sterile inflammation.
• 3
  Inhibiting inflammasome pathways, such as the NLRP3 inflammasome, and targeting pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-1b show promise for treating SCI by reducing neuroinflammation and promoting functional recovery.