Inhibition of TANK-binding kinase1 attenuates the astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammatory response through YAP signaling after spinal cord injury

Aims TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) is involved in regulating the pathological process of a variety of inflammatory diseases in the central nervous system. However, its role and underlying molecular mechanisms in spinal cord injury (SCI) remain largely unknown.Methods We employed the TBK1 inhibitor amlexanox (ALX) to address this question. An in vivo clip-compressive SCI model and in vitro lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced astrocyte inflammation model were established to examine the effects of TBK1 inhibition on the expression of proinflammatory cytokines.Results In this study, we found that TBK1 and TBK1-medicated innate immune pathways, such as TBK1/IRF3 and noncanonical NF-?B signaling, were activated in astrocytes and neurons after SCI. Furthermore, inhibition of TBK1 by ALX alleviated neuroinflammation response, reduced the loss of motor neurons, and improved the functional recovery after SCI. Mechanistically, inhibition of TBK1 activity promoted the activation of the noncanonical NF-?B signaling pathway and inhibited p-IRF3 activity in LPS-induced astrocytes, and the TBK1 activity was required for astrocytic activation through yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling after SCI and in LPS-induced astrocytes inflammation model.Conclusion TBK1-medicated innate immune pathway in astrocytes through YAP signaling plays an important role in the pathogenesis of SCI and inhibition of TBK1 may be a potential therapeutic drug for SCI.

Automated summary

TBK1 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of spinal cord injury (SCI) by mediating innate immune pathways in astrocytes through YAP signaling. Inhibition of TBK1 activity alleviates neuroinflammation, reduces motor neuron loss, and improves functional recovery.