ZBP1 deficiency ameliorates the motor dysfunction following brachial plexus root avulsion in mice

Brachial plexus root avulsion (BPRA) is a devastating peripheral nerve injury that results in irreversible forelimb motor dysfunction, largely due to extensive motor neuron (MN) degeneration in the spinal ventral horn accompanied by robust neuroinflammation. Z-DNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1) has been implicated in inflammatory regulation and programmed cell death in several neurological disorders; however, its role in BPRA remains unclear. Here, we observed a marked upregulation of ZBP1 mRNA in the ipsilateral spinal ventral horn following BPRA. To examine the functional relevance of ZBP1 in BPRA pathology, ZBP1 knockout (KO) mice were subjected to BPRA followed by ventral root reimplantation. Behavioral assessments, histological analyses, and quantitative real-time PCR were performed to evaluate motor recovery, neuronal survival, and inflammatory responses. ZBP1 deficiency significantly improved forelimb motor function, increased MN survival, enhanced axonal remyelination, and attenuated biceps brachii muscle atrophy after BPRA. These beneficial effects were associated with reduced expression of pyroptosis-related and pro-inflammatory genes in the spinal ventral horn, suggesting an alleviation of the neuroinflammatory microenvironment. Collectively, these findings identify ZBP1 as a critical regulator of BPRA-induced MN degeneration and functional impairment, and indicate that targeting ZBP1 may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for improving neurological outcomes following brachial plexus injuries.