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Liu L, Tang Z, Zeng Q, Qi W, Zhou Z, Chen D, Cai D, Chen Y, Sun S, Gong S, He B, Yu S, Zhao L. Transcriptomic Insights into Different Stimulation Intensity of Electroacupuncture in Treating COPD in Rat Models. J Inflamm Res 2024; 17:2873-2887. [PMID: 38741612 PMCID: PMC11090121 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s458580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Electroacupuncture (EA), with varying stimulation intensities, has demonstrated therapeutic potentials in both animal and clinical studies for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, a comprehensive investigation of the intensity-related effects, particularly 1mA and 3mA of EA, and the underlying mechanisms remains lacking. Methods A COPD rat model was established by prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke and intermittent intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide. EA treatment was administered at acupoints BL13 (Feishu) and ST36 (Zusanli), 20 minutes daily for 2 weeks, with intensities of 1mA and 3mA. EA effectiveness was evaluated by pulmonary function, histopathological change, serum level of inflammatory cytokines, and level of oxidative stress markers in serum and lung tissues. Transcriptome profiling and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were performed to reveal gene expression patterns and identify hub genes. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot (WB) were performed to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels, respectively. Results EA at both 1mA and 3mA exerted differing therapeutic effects by improving lung function and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in COPD rats. Transcriptome analysis revealed distinct expression patterns between the two groups, functionally corresponding to shared and intensity-specific (1mA and 3mA) enriched pathways. Eight candidate genes were identified, including Aqp9, Trem1, Mrc1, and Gpnmb that were downregulated by EA and upregulated in COPD. Notably, Msr1 and Slc26a4 exclusively downregulated in EA-1mA, while Pde3a and Bmp6 upregulated solely in EA-3mA. WGCNA constructed 5 key modules and elucidated the module-trait relationship, with the aforementioned 8 genes being highlighted. Additionally, their mRNA and protein levels were validated by RT-qPCR and WB. Conclusion Our results demonstrated that 1mA and 3mA intensities induce distinct gene expression patterns at the transcriptional level, associated with shared and 1mA vs 3mA-specific enriched pathways. Genes Mrc1, Gpnmb, Trem1, and Aqp9 emerge as promising targets, and further studies are needed to elucidate their functional consequences in COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Liu
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zili Tang
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qian Zeng
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenchuan Qi
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ziyang Zhou
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Daohong Chen
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dingjun Cai
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China
- Acupuncture and Chronobiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture for Senile Disease (Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shiqi Sun
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Siyao Gong
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bin He
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuguang Yu
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China
- Acupuncture and Chronobiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture for Senile Disease (Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China
- Acupuncture and Chronobiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture for Senile Disease (Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China
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Imamoto T, Kawasaki T, Sato H, Tatsumi K, Ishii D, Yoshioka K, Hasegawa Y, Ohara O, Suzuki T. Different Transcriptome Features of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Non-Emphysematous Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:66. [PMID: 38203236 PMCID: PMC10779039 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-emphysematous chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is defined based on chest computed tomography findings, presented different transcriptome features of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) compared with emphysematous COPD. Enrichment analysis of transcriptomic data in COPD demonstrated that the "Hematopoietic cell lineage" pathway in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis was highly upregulated, suggesting that cellular dynamic dysregulation in COPD lungs is affected by pathologically modified PBMCs. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) upregulated in PBMCs reflected the disease state of non-emphysematous COPD. Upregulated DEGs such as XCL1, PRKCZ, TMEM102, CD200R1, and AQP1 activate T lymphocytes and eosinophils. Upregulating keratan sulfate biosynthesis and metabolic processes is associated with protection against the destruction of the distal airways. ITGA3 upregulation augments interactions with extracellular matrix proteins, and COL6A1 augments the profibrotic mast cell phenotype during alveolar collagen VI deposition. Upregulating HSPG2, PDGFRB, and PAK4 contributes to the thickening of the airway wall, and upregulating SERPINF1 expression explains the better-preserved vascular bed. Therefore, gene expression and pathway analysis in PBMCs in patients with non-emphysematous COPD represented type 2 immune responses and airway remodeling features. Therefore, these patients have asthmatic potential despite no clinical signs of asthma, in contrast to those with emphysematous COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuro Imamoto
- Department of Respirology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kawasaki
- Department of Respirology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Hironori Sato
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Koichiro Tatsumi
- Department of Respirology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ishii
- Department of Respirology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Keiichiro Yoshioka
- Department of Respirology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Hasegawa
- Department of Applied Genomics, Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Chiba 292-0818, Japan
| | - Osamu Ohara
- Department of Applied Genomics, Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Chiba 292-0818, Japan
| | - Takuji Suzuki
- Department of Respirology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
- Synergy Institute for Futuristic Mucosal Vaccine Research and Development, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
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