Tofacitinib Promotes Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury by Regulating Microglial Polarization via JAK/STAT Signaling Pathway

This study investigates the potential of Tofacitinib (TOF), a JAK inhibitor, to improve recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) by modulating the inflammatory response. The research focuses on how TOF affects microglia, a type of immune cell in the spinal cord, and the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, a key player in inflammation. The researchers used a rat model of SCI to evaluate the effects of TOF on motor function, tissue damage, and inflammation. They also conducted in vitro experiments with microglia and neurons to understand the underlying mechanisms of TOF's action. The findings suggest that TOF can reduce inflammation, promote nerve regeneration, and improve motor function after SCI. This is believed to occur by shifting microglia from a pro-inflammatory state to an anti-inflammatory state through the JAK/STAT pathway.

• 1
  TOF effectively improves motor dysfunction caused by spinal cord injury in rats, indicating its potential to promote functional recovery.
• 2
  TOF inhibits neuronal apoptosis and scar tissue formation in the early stages of inflammation after SCI, suggesting a protective effect on nerve cells and tissues.
• 3
  TOF suppresses inflammation by inhibiting the activation of microglia to a pro-inflammatory phenotype, both in vivo and in vitro, highlighting its role in regulating the immune response after SCI.