Blocking cGAS-STING pathway promotes post-stroke functional recovery in an extended treatment window via facilitating remyelination

Abstract

Background: Ischemic stroke is a major cause of worldwide death and disability, with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator being the sole effective treatment, albeit with a limited treatment window. The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) and stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway is emerging as the major DNA-sensing pathway to invoke immune responses in neuroinflammatory disorders.

Methods: By performing a series of neurobehavioral assessments, electrophysiological analysis, high-throughput sequencing, and cell-based assays based on the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) mouse stroke model, we examined the effects and underlying mechanisms of genetic and pharmacological inhibition of the cGAS-STING pathway on long-term post-stroke neurological functional outcomes.

Findings: Blocking the cGAS-STING pathway, even 3 days after tMCAO, significantly promoted functional recovery in terms of white matter structural and functional integrity as well as sensorimotor and cognitive functions. Mechanistically, the neuroprotective effects via inhibiting the cGAS-STING pathway were contributed not only by inflammation repression at the early stage of tMCAO but also by modifying the cell state of phagocytes to facilitate remyelination at the sub-acute phase. The activation of the cGAS-STING pathway significantly impeded post-stroke remyelination through restraining myelin debris uptake and degradation and hindering oligodendrocyte differentiation and maturation.

Conclusions: Manipulating the cGAS-STING pathway has an extended treatment window in promoting long-term post-stroke functional recovery via facilitating remyelination in a mouse stroke model. Our results highlight the roles of the cGAS-STING pathway in aggregating stroke pathology and propose a new way for improving functional recovery after ischemic stroke.

Funding: This work was primarily funded by the National Key R&D Program of China.

Keywords: Pre-clinical research; STING antagonist; cGAS-STING pathway; ischemic stroke; phagocyte; remyelination.