Emerging role of STING signalling in CNS injury: inflammation, autophagy, necroptosis, ferroptosis and pyroptosis

The central nervous system (CNS) is vulnerable to mechanical damage, leading to conditions like traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI). These injuries often result in significant disability and high medical costs. Following the initial injury, a secondary injury occurs, extending damage to adjacent healthy cells and leading to inflammation and neuronal cell death. Therefore, controlling neuroinflammation to prevent nerve cell death is vital for treating CNS injuries. The STING pathway is activated by the presence of cytoplasmic DNA and plays a role in inflammation and cell death pathways. Understanding how STING modulates the inflammatory response in CNS injury may reveal therapeutic targets.

• 1
  STING signalling is markedly increased in CNS injury, and STING agonists might facilitate the pathogenesis of CNS injury.
• 2
  STING signals play an important role in mediating brain injury, which is closely related to autophagy and programmed necrosis.
• 3
  STING markedly exacerbates inflammatory events and nerve injury by directly binding to TBK1, which stimulates the NF-kB and MAPK signalling pathways.