Ferroptosis in Spinal Cord Injury: Research Progress and Novel Insights

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe condition affecting the central nervous system that often leads to varying degrees of motor and sensory impairment. Acute primary SCI is often managed with early surgical intervention; however, secondary SCI generally has a poor prognosis owing to the lack of effective drug therapy, complex pathophysiological processes, and inherent challenges of neural repair. Ferroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death, is characterised by oxidative damage resulting from iron-mediated accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) within cells. This type of cell death is prevalent in various pathological processes. Although research on ferroptosis in SCI is still emerging, some inhibitors (such as target proteins and natural compounds) have shown promising results in preclinical studies. Targeting ferroptosis may be a potential strategy for treating SCI. This paper reviews the current state of research on ferroptosis in SCI by analysing recent literature and proposes future research directions, aiming to provide new insights into SCI treatment.