Tanshinone IIA attenuates fluoride-induced spinal cord injury by inhibiting ferroptosis and inflammation

Excessive fluoride exposure can harm the nervous system, but the exact mechanisms are not well understood. This study investigates how Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), a compound from a traditional Chinese herb, can protect against spinal cord injury caused by fluoride. The research found that fluoride exposure leads to molecular and structural changes in the spinal cord, along with inflammation and a specific type of cell death called ferroptosis. Tan IIA treatment helped to reverse these changes. These findings suggest that Tan IIA could be a potential treatment for spinal cord injuries caused by fluoride, by reducing inflammation and preventing ferroptosis.

• 1
  Fluoride exposure induces spinal cord injury with aberrant biomarkers, including increased mRNA levels of Mmp9, TNF-α, IL-1β, Mag, P53, NF-κB, and GSK3β, and decreased mRNA levels of Mbp.
• 2
  Ferroptosis is involved in spinal cord injury in rats exposed to fluoride, with increased expression of ferroptosis driver genes (CXCL2, DDIT4, GDF15, ACSF2, and PCK2) and decreased expression of ferroptosis suppressor genes (NFE2L2, SLC7A11, RRM2, and IREB2).
• 3
  Tanshinone IIA ameliorates spinal cord injury in rats exposed to fluoride by reducing inflammation and restoring the expression of ferroptosis-related genes.