cGAS–STING pathway modulation: A new hope for neural regeneration

In recent decades, the limitations of therapeutic interventions have elevated neurological disorders and injuries to a prominent position in academic research. Existing neurotherapeutic methodologies have demonstrated insufficient efficacy in fostering neural regeneration. The current integration of precision medicine technologies and innovative tissue engineering methods holds significant promise for attaining neural regeneration. The cGAS-STING pathway, a pivotal component of the innate immune system, plays a crucial role in the pathological processes of various neurological diseases and injuries. In neuroinflammatory diseases and neural injuries, aberrant activation of the cGAS-STING pathway amplifies neuroinflammation, type I interferon responses, and cell death. Inhibition of cGAS- STING-related genes holds promise for promoting neural regeneration following disease recovery and defect regeneration. In this review, the foundational pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cGAS-STING-related gene regulation in neurological disorders and injuries are elucidated with a special emphasis on its implications in nerve-related cells. In this review, we highlight the advances in tissue engineering technologies that integrate cGAS-STING pathway modulators, highlighting their potential therapeutic efficacy in modulating neural regeneration. Nevertheless, the role of the cGAS- STING pathway in neural regeneration remains relatively limited. Bibliometric analysis demonstrates a significant correlation of cGAS-STING pathway activation with various neuropathological processes. Studies have progressively focused on the critical role of this pathway in neurological diseases and injuries. As it stands, the effectiveness of tissue engineering technologies involving cGAS-STING-related gene modulators in achieving neural regeneration remains unfulfilled in its potential. Future research must apply advanced omics technologies to further delineate the exact functions of the cGAS-STING pathway in neural regeneration. Integration of these results with precision medicine approaches will be necessary for creating tissue engineering biomaterials with capabilities for precise delivery and targeted controlled release of cGAS-STING-related genes in neural regeneration-related cells, towards functional recovery from neurological injury and diseases.