The Role and Mechanism of the cGAS–STING/NLRP3 Signaling Axis-Regulated p38 MAPK/NF–κB Pathway in Manganese-Induced Tau Aggregation-Mediated Neurotoxicity

Manganese (Mn) is an essential trace element, but increasing industrial and agricultural use has led to elevated levels of environmental Mn levels. Chronic overexposure to Mn can cause a Parkinson’s-like neurodegenerative disorder; however, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study combined in vitro and in vivo models to investigate the role of the cGAS–STING/NLRP3 axis in regulating the p38 MAPK/NF–κB pathway in the process of Mn-induced Tau aggregation leading to neurotoxicity. Our results demonstrated that MnCl2 exposure significantly activated both the cGAS–STING/NLRP3 signaling axis and the p38 MAPK/NF–κB pathway, accompanied by increased Tau expression. Genetic ablation of cGAS, STING, or NLRP3 attenuated Mn-induced Tau upregulation, indicating that the cGAS–STING/NLRP3 signaling axis mediates Tau expression. RNA-seq analysis further revealed that the decreased Tau expression in knockout cells is associated with the MAPK/NF–κB signaling pathway. Pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK or NF–κB markedly downregulated cGAS–STING signaling, inflammatory cytokine release, and phosphorylated Tau (p-Tau) levels. Moreover, we observed colocalization and interaction among p-p38, p-p65, and p-Tau. Overall, these findings reveal that Mn activates the cGAS–STING/NLRP3 signaling axis regulated by the p38 MAPK/NF–κB pathway, driving pathological Tau aggregation.