Neuroprotective effects and mechanisms of zinc in the management of spinal cord injury: a review
10.3760/cma.j.cn501098-20250305-00121
- VernacularTitle:锌在脊髓损伤治疗中的神经保护作用及其机制研究进展
- Author:
Xianrui SONG
1
;
Heng WANG
1
;
Yulin ZHAO
1
;
Yuchen ZHOU
1
;
Xiaoqing CHEN
1
Author Information
1. 南通大学附属医院脊柱外科，南通 226001
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Zinc;
Spinal cord injuries;
Neuroprotection
- From:
Chinese Journal of Trauma
2025;41(7):694-701
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Spinal cord injury represents a severe central nervous system trauma characterized by prolonged treatment duration, limited neural regeneration, and delayed functional recovery, greatly affecting patients′ quality of life. The impaired neural tissue struggles to recover effectively due to both the hostile microenvironment and its own compromised state. Current clinical interventions, including early reduction, laminectomy decompression, and intravenous or intrathecal methylprednisolone administration, fail to simultaneously modulate the microenvironment and improve the neural status. Zinc, a trace element abundant in the central nervous system, plays a critical role in gene expression regulation, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal activity. Clinical evidences have indicated that lower serum zinc concentration in patients with spinal cord injury correlates with poorer outcomes and animal experiments have also demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of zinc. In fact, zinc supplementation therapy has not yet been developed into a mature clinical protocol. Besides, related animal studies still lack comprehensive understanding. To this end, the authors reviewed the biological characteristics of zinc, its administration routes, neuroprotective effects and mechanisms in the management of spinal cord injury, aiming to provide references for future basic research and clinical practice.
