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Li B, Deng S, Jiang H, Zhu W, Zhuo B, Du Y, Meng Z. The mechanistic effects of acupuncture in rodent neurodegenerative disease models: a literature review. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1323555. [PMID: 38500484 PMCID: PMC10944972 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1323555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases refer to a battery of medical conditions that affect the survival and function of neurons in the brain, which are mainly presented with progressive loss of cognitive and/or motor function. Acupuncture showed benign effects in improving neurological deficits, especially on movement and cognitive function impairment. Here, we reviewed the therapeutic mechanisms of acupuncture at the neural circuit level in movement and cognition disorders, summarizing the influence of acupuncture in the dopaminergic system, glutamatergic system, γ-amino butyric acid-ergic (GABAergic) system, serotonergic system, cholinergic system, and glial cells at the circuit and synaptic levels. These findings can provide targets for clinical treatment and perspectives for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boxuan Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Shizhe Deng
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Hailun Jiang
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Weiming Zhu
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Bifang Zhuo
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuzheng Du
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhihong Meng
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
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Fan X, Liu Y, Li S, Yang Y, Zhao Y, Li W, Hao J, Xu Z, Zhang B, Liu W, Zhang S. Comprehensive landscape-style investigation of the molecular mechanism of acupuncture at ST36 single acupoint on different systemic diseases. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26270. [PMID: 38375243 PMCID: PMC10875596 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The principle of acupoint stimulation efficacy is based on traditional meridian theory. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of acupoints in treating diseases remain unclear in modern scientific understanding. In this study, we selected the ST36 acupoint for investigation and summarized all relevant literature from the PubMed database over the past 10 years. The results indicate that stimulation of ST36 single acupoints has therapeutic effects mainly in models of respiratory, neurological, digestive, endocrine and immune system diseases. And it can affect the inflammatory state, oxidative stress, respiratory mucus secretion, intestinal flora, immune cell function, neurotransmitter transmission, hormone secretion, the network of Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC) and glucose metabolism of the organism in these pathological states. Among them, acupuncture at the ST36 single point has the most prominent function in regulating the inflammatory state, which can mainly affect the activation of MAPK signaling pathway and drive the "molecular-cellular" mode involving macrophages, T-lymphocytes, mast cells (MCs) and neuroglial cells as the core to trigger the molecular level changes of the acupuncture point locally or in the target organ tissues, thereby establishing a multi-system, multi-target, multi-level molecular regulating mechanism. This article provides a comprehensive summary and discussion of the molecular mechanisms and effects of acupuncture at the ST36 acupoint, laying the groundwork for future in-depth research on acupuncture point theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Fan
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300250, China
| | - Yunlong Liu
- Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Shanshan Li
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Yongrui Yang
- Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Yinghui Zhao
- Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Wenxi Li
- Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Jiaxin Hao
- Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Zhifang Xu
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Institute for TCM-X, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Wei Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Hebei Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Hebei Shijiazhuang, 050011, China
| | - Suzhao Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Hebei Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Hebei Shijiazhuang, 050011, China
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Lv T, Wang M, Zheng HS, Mao JD, Yang F, Yang L, Zhao MG, Liu SB, Zhang K, Liu R, Wu YM. Electroacupuncture alleviates PTSD-like behaviors by modulating hippocampal synaptic plasticity via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Brain Res Bull 2023; 202:110734. [PMID: 37586426 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Abnormalities in hippocampal synaptic plasticity contribute to the pathogenesis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is critical for the regulation of synaptic plasticity. PTSD symptoms can be alleviated by correcting impaired neural plasticity in the hippocampus (Hipp). Electroacupuncture (EA) has a therapeutic effect by relieving PTSD-like behaviors. However, little is known about whether the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is involved in EA-mediated improvements of PTSD symptoms. In this study, we found that enhanced single prolonged stress (ESPS)-induced PTSD led to abnormal neural plasticity, characterized by the decline of dendritic spines, the expression of postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95), and synaptophysin (Syn) in the stressed Hipp along with the reduction of Wnt3a and β-catenin, and increased GSK-3β. EA significantly alleviated PTSD-like behaviors, as assessed by the open field test, elevated platform maze test and conditioning fear test. This was paralleled by correcting abnormal neural plasticity by promoting the expression of PSD95 and Syn, as well as the number of dendritic spines in the Hipp. Importantly, EA exerted anti-PTSD effects by augmenting the expression levels of Wnt3a and β-catenin, and decreasing that of GSK-3β. The effects mediated by EA were abolished by XAV939, an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This suggests that EA relieved ESPS-induced PTSD-like behaviors, which can largely be ascribed to impaired neural plasticity in the Hipp. These findings provide new insights into possible mechanisms linking neural plasticity in the Hipp as potential novel targets for PTSD treatment in EA therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Lv
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China; Department of Acupuncture-moxibustion-massage, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi 712000, PR China
| | - Min Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China
| | - He-Sheng Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China; Department of Acupuncture-moxibustion-massage, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi 712000, PR China
| | - Jin-Dong Mao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China; Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, PR China
| | - Le Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, PR China
| | - Ming-Gao Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, PR China
| | - Shui-Bing Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, PR China.
| | - Yu-Mei Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China; Department of Acupuncture-moxibustion-massage, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi 712000, PR China.
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Li N, Wang H, Liu H, Zhu L, Lyu Z, Qiu J, Zhao T, Ren H, Huang L, Chen S, Hu X, Zhou L. The effects and mechanisms of acupuncture for post-stroke cognitive impairment: progress and prospects. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1211044. [PMID: 37397457 PMCID: PMC10309044 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1211044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Stroke is one of the important causes of both disability and death worldwide, which is very common in older adults. Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a common secondary damage of stroke, which is the main cause of long-term disability and decreased quality of life in stroke patients, which brings a heavy burden to society and families. Acupuncture, as one of the oldest and widely used worldwide techniques in Chinese medicine, is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an alternative and complementary strategy for improving stroke care. This review comprehensively summarizes literature from the last 25 years, showing that acupuncture can exert strong beneficial effect on PSCI. The mechanisms of acupuncture on PSCI involves anti-neuronal apoptosis, promoting synaptic plasticity, alleviating central and peripheral inflammatory reactions, and regulating brain energy metabolism disorders (including improving cerebral blood flow, glucose utilization and mitochondrial structure and function, etc.), etc. The effects and mechanisms of acupuncture on PSCI reviewed in this study provides scientific and reliable evidence for acupuncture application for PSCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningcen Li
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Binhai New Area Hospital of TCM, Fourth Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Xi’an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi’an, Shanxi, China
| | - Hang Liu
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Nanchang Hongdu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medical Clinical Research Center of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Lina Zhu
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Nanchang Hongdu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medical Clinical Research Center of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhongxi Lyu
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiwen Qiu
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Tianyi Zhao
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Haiyan Ren
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Lihong Huang
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Shuangli Chen
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiuwu Hu
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Nanchang Hongdu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medical Clinical Research Center of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Liang Zhou
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Nanchang Hongdu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medical Clinical Research Center of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
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Zhang J, Liu Y, Li Z, Hu Q, Huang X, Lv H, Xu J, Yu H. Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of acupuncture at ST36: a coordinate-based meta-analysis. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1180434. [PMID: 37360179 PMCID: PMC10287969 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1180434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been widely used to investigate the brain effect of acupuncture point Stomach 36 (ST36, Zusanli). However, inconsistent results have hindered our understanding of the neural mechanisms of acupuncture at ST36. Objective To perform a meta-analysis of fMRI studies on acupuncture at ST36 to assess the brain atlas of acupuncture at ST36 from available studies. Method Based on a preregistered protocol in PROSPERO (CRD42019119553), a large set of databases was searched up to August 9, 2021, without language restrictions. Peak coordinates were extracted from clusters that showed significant signal differences before and after acupuncture treatment. A meta-analysis was performed using seed-based d mapping with permutation of subject images (SDM-PSI), a newly improved meta-analytic method. Results A total of 27 studies (27 ST36) were included. This meta-analysis found that ST36 could activate the left cerebellum, the bilateral Rolandic operculum, the right supramarginal gyrus, and the right cerebellum. Functional characterizations showed that acupuncture at ST36 was mainly associated with action and perception. Conclusion Our results provide a brain atlas for acupuncture at ST36, which, besides offering a better understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms, also provides the possibility of future precision therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhuan Zhang
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yongfeng Liu
- Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zihan Li
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qingmao Hu
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xingxian Huang
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hanqing Lv
- Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jinping Xu
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haibo Yu
- Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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Zhang Z, Chen L, Guo Y, Li D, Zhang J, Liu L, Fan W, Guo T, Qin S, Zhao Y, Xu Z, Chen Z. The neuroprotective and neural circuit mechanisms of acupoint stimulation for cognitive impairment. Chin Med 2023; 18:8. [PMID: 36670425 PMCID: PMC9863122 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-023-00707-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is a prevalent neurological disorder that burdens families and the healthcare system. Current conventional therapies for cognitive impairment, such as cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonists, are unable to completely stop or reverse the progression of the disease. Also, these medicines may cause serious problems with the digestive system, cardiovascular system, and sleep. Clinically, stimulation of acupoints has the potential to ameliorate the common symptoms of a variety of cognitive disorders, such as memory deficit, language dysfunction, executive dysfunction, reduced ability to live independently, etc. There are common acupoint stimulation mechanisms for treating various types of cognitive impairment, but few systematic analyses of the underlying mechanisms in this domain have been performed. This study comprehensively reviewed the basic research from the last 20 years and found that acupoint stimulation can effectively improve the spatial learning and memory of animals. The common mechanism may be that acupoint stimulation protects hippocampal neurons by preventing apoptosis and scavenging toxic proteins. Additionally, acupoint stimulation has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, promoting neural regeneration, regulating synaptic plasticity, and normalizing neural circuits by restoring brain functional activity and connectivity. Acupoint stimulation also inhibits the production of amyloid β-peptide and the phosphorylation of Tau protein, suggesting that it may protect neurons by promoting correct protein folding and regulating the degradation of toxic proteins via the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. However, the benefits of acupoint stimulation still need to be further explored in more high-quality studies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zichen Zhang
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China
| | - Liuyi Chen
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China ,grid.257143.60000 0004 1772 1285First Clinical College, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Guo
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China ,grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381 People’s Republic of China
| | - Dan Li
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China ,grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China ,grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jingyu Zhang
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ling Liu
- grid.257143.60000 0004 1772 1285First Clinical College, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065 People’s Republic of China
| | - Wen Fan
- grid.412879.10000 0004 0374 1074Department of Rehabilitation Physical Therapy Course, Faculty of Health Science, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Suzuka City, 5100293 Japan
| | - Tao Guo
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China
| | - Siru Qin
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yadan Zhao
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhifang Xu
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China ,grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China ,grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381 People’s Republic of China
| | - Zelin Chen
- grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China ,grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617 People’s Republic of China ,grid.410648.f0000 0001 1816 6218National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381 People’s Republic of China
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Li G, Shi Y, Zhang L, Yang C, Wan T, Lv H, Jian W, Li J, Li M. Efficacy of acupuncture in animal models of vascular dementia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:952181. [PMID: 36062145 PMCID: PMC9434110 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.952181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and purpose Acupuncture is widely used in clinical practice for the treatment of vascular diseases. However, the protocol, efficacy, and mechanism of acupuncture in animal models of vascular dementia are still controversial. Based on the above problems, we initiated this comprehensive study. Methods To analyze the literatures included in this study, 4 databases were searched and the SYRCLE's Risk of bias tool was employed. To perform the subgroup analysis of different acupuncture methods and the Review Manager 5.3 was applied. Meanwhile, the pairwise and network meta-analysis were conducted using Addis 1.16.8. The outcomes included escape latency, number of crossings, time spent in the target quadrant, and swimming speed. Results Forty-two studies with a total of 1,486 animals were included in this meta-analysis. According to the results from subgroup analysis, GV20 + ST36 (Baihui + bilateral Zusanli) combined with 14-day manual acupuncture can obtain best improvement of the rats cognitive function among all acupuncture regimens (MD: -23.41; 95%CI: -26.66, -20.15; I2 = 0%; P < 0.001). The heterogeneity of other acupuncture treatments was significantly higher than that of GV20 + ST36, because the treatment courses were not uniform. Pair-wise and network comparisons are highly consistent. The major results of the network meta-analysis were as follows, In comparison to the impaired group, the acupuncture group showed significantly reduced escape latency (MD: -25.87; 95%CI: -30.75, -21.12), increased number of original platform crossings (MD: 2.63; 95%CI: 1.94, 3.34) and time spent in the target quadrant (MD: 7.88; 95%CI: 4.25, 11.44). The overall results of the network meta-analysis are as follows: the normal and sham-operated groups performed the best, followed by medicine and acupuncture, while no effect was found in the impaired group treated with non-acupoint and palliative. Conclusions Acupuncture significantly improves cognitive function in rats with vascular dementia. Compared to other acupuncture plans, (GV20 + ST36, MA) and 14 -day manual acupuncture can be used to obtain better results. The main mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of vascular dementia is reduced oxidative stress, neuronal inflammation, and apoptosis, as well as the increased synaptic plasticity and neurotransmitters. Systematic review registration https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2021-11-0036/, identifier: INPLASY2021110036.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyao Li
- Medical College of Acupuncture Moxibustion and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuling Shi
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Medical College of Acupuncture Moxibustion and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chuanghui Yang
- Medical College of Acupuncture Moxibustion and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ting Wan
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hang Lv
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenxuan Jian
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinghu Li
- Department of Massage, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Min Li
- Medical College of Acupuncture Moxibustion and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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Electroacupuncture Increases the Hippocampal Synaptic Transmission Efficiency and Long-Term Plasticity to Improve Vascular Cognitive Impairment. Mediators Inflamm 2022; 2022:5985143. [PMID: 35784174 PMCID: PMC9246579 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5985143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) can effectively improve vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), but its mechanisms have not been clearly elucidated. This study is aimed at investigating the mechanisms underlying the effects of EA treatment on hippocampal synaptic transmission efficiency and plasticity in rats with VCI. Methods. Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to VCI with bilateral common carotid occlusion (2VO). EA stimulation was applied to Baihui (GV20) and Shenting (GV24) acupoints for 30 min once a day, five times a week, for four weeks. Our study also included nonacupoint groups to confirm the specificity of EA therapy. The Morris water maze (MWM) was used to assess cognitive function. Electrophysiological techniques were used to detect the field characteristics of the hippocampal CA3–CA1 circuit in each group of rats, including input-output (I/O), paired-pulse facilitation ratios (PPR), field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP), and excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC). The expression of synapse- and calcium-mediated signal transduction associated proteins was detected through western blotting. Results. The MWM behavioural results showed that EA significantly improved cognitive function in VCI model rats. EA increased the I/O curve of VCI model rats from 20 to 90 μA. No significant differences were observed in hippocampal PPR. The fEPSP of the hippocampal CA3–CA1 circuit was significantly increased after EA treatment compared with that after nonacupuncture treatment. We found that EA led to an increase in the EPSC amplitude and frequency, especially in the decay and rise times. In addition, the protein expression and phosphorylation levels of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate receptor 1, and Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II increased to varying degrees in the hippocampus of VCI model rats. Conclusion. EA at GV20 and GV24 acupoints increased the basic synaptic transmission efficiency and synaptic plasticity of the hippocampal CA3–CA1 circuit, thereby improving learning and memory ability in rats with VCI.
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Fan W, Zhang Y, Li X, Xu C. S-oxiracetam Facilitates Cognitive Restoration after Ischemic Stroke by Activating α7nAChR and the PI3K-Mediated Pathway. Neurochem Res 2021; 46:888-904. [PMID: 33481205 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-021-03233-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
S-oxiracetam (S-ORC), a nootropic drug, was used to protect against ischemic stroke by lessening the blood brain barrier dysfunction and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis. However, the potential effects of S-ORC in the recovery of cognitive functions after ischemic stroke and the underlying mechanisms remains unclear. In this study, middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) in rats was used as the animal model. By using Y-maze test, Morris water maze, triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate (dUTp) nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, hematoxylin and eosin, immunohistochemical staining and western blot to evaluate the protective effect of S-ORC on cognitive recovery, we were able to confirm that S-ORC ameliorated spatial learning impairment, tissue loss, and hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and injury induced by MCAO/R in rats. These cognitive effects were achieved by restoring the normal function of synaptophysin and increasing PSD95 expression in the hippocampus. Furthermore, we found that methyllycaconitine, the antagonist of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR), and LY294002, the inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), were able to block the cognitive effects of S-ORC after MCAO/R in rats. In conclusion, α7nAChR and PI3K are key molecules that mediated the signaling pathway leading to S-ORC-induced cognitive restoration after MCAO/R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxiang Fan
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310053, China
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaomin Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Chi Xu
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
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The Role of Acupuncture Improving Cognitive Deficits due to Alzheimer's Disease or Vascular Diseases through Regulating Neuroplasticity. Neural Plast 2021; 2021:8868447. [PMID: 33505460 PMCID: PMC7815402 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8868447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Dementia affects millions of elderly worldwide causing remarkable costs to society, but effective treatment is still lacking. Acupuncture is one of the complementary therapies that has been applied to cognitive deficits such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), while the underlying mechanisms of its therapeutic efficiency remain elusive. Neuroplasticity is defined as the ability of the nervous system to adapt to internal and external environmental changes, which may support some data to clarify mechanisms how acupuncture improves cognitive impairments. This review summarizes the up-to-date and comprehensive information on the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment on neurogenesis and gliogenesis, synaptic plasticity, related regulatory factors, and signaling pathways, as well as brain network connectivity, to lay ground for fully elucidating the potential mechanism of acupuncture on the regulation of neuroplasticity and promoting its clinical application as a complementary therapy for AD and VCI.
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11
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Tang Y, Wang T, Yang L, Zou X, Zhou J, Wu J, Yang J. Acupuncture for post-operative cognitive dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Acupunct Med 2020; 39:423-431. [PMID: 33280396 DOI: 10.1177/0964528420961393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common post-surgical complication, which is associated with increased costs and extended hospital stays. Recently, interest in acupuncture as a potential therapy for POCD has grown. The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture for POCD. METHODS PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Medline, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases were searched through March 2018. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which patients with POCD treated with acupuncture (acupuncture group) were compared with those receiving a no treatment control were included. Meta-analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS Sixteen studies containing 1241 participants were included. POCD incidence in the acupuncture group was significantly lower than that in the control groups on the first (odds ratio (OR) = 0.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.23-0.45) and third (OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.30-0.56) post-operative days, with no statistically significant difference on the seventh day (OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.32-1.04). Acupuncture therapy also improved mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores on the first (mean difference (MD) = 3.28, 95% CI = 2.79-3.77) and third (MD = 2.52, 95% CI = 2.18-2.87) post-operative days, with no effect on the seventh (MD = 0.14, 95% CI = -0.24 to 0.51). Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores on the first post-operative day were not impacted by acupuncture but were likely associated with post-operative nausea and vomiting on the seventh post-operative day. With respect to methodological quality, most RCTs were found to have an unclear risk of bias. CONCLUSION Acupuncture may successfully treat/prevent POCD. However, the current evidence is limited and further research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yidan Tang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Translational Neuroscience Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Tao Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Translational Neuroscience Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Xuemei Zou
- Department of Anesthesiology and Translational Neuroscience Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Jianxiong Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology and Translational Neuroscience Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Junmei Wu
- School of traditional Chinese medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, P.R. China
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Translational Neuroscience Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
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Acupuncture attenuates cognitive deficits through α7nAChR mediated anti-inflammatory pathway in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rats. Life Sci 2020; 266:118732. [PMID: 33160996 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) elicits inflammatory response, which contributes to the pathology of cognitive impairment. Several studies demonstrate that the alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) can be a key component to modulate the inflammatory responses. We have reported previously that acupuncture attenuated cognitive deficits induced by CCH. In present study, whether effect of acupuncture was related to α7nAChR mediated anti-inflammatory pathway in CCH rats was further explored. MAIN METHODS Acupuncture was performed in CCH rats induced by bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion. Neuronal injury, the activation of microglia, the release of inflammatory cytokines, the expression of α7nAChR, and the activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways were detected. Cognitive function and central inflammation were evaluated after the intraperitoneal injection of an α7nAChR agonist PNU282987, or intracerebroventricular injection of an α7nAChR antagonist α-bungarotoxin (α-BGT). KEY FINDINGS We found that there were neuronal damage and inflammation, accompanied with the decreased expressions of α7nAChR in the hippocampus under CCH condition. Acupuncture inhibited neuronal damage, activation of microglia, and inflammatory cytokines. The expressions of α7nAChR, together with its downstream JAK2/STAT3 pathways were up regulated by acupuncture. PNU282987 mimicked the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects as well as the cognitive improvements of acupuncture. Meanwhile, the benefit effects of acupuncture above were blocked by α-BGT. SIGNIFICANCE It was demonstrated that acupuncture promoted cognitive function and afforded neuroprotective effects against inflammation via activation of α7nAChR and its downstream JAK2-STAT3 pathway in CCH rats. It provides a new insight for acupuncture as an anti-inflammatory intervention for cognitive impairment.
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Yang NN, Ma SM, Yang JW, Li TR, Liu CZ. Standardizing therapeutic parameters of acupuncture in vascular dementia rats. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01781. [PMID: 32761882 PMCID: PMC7559613 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite acupuncture having been successfully used for the clinical treatment for vascular dementia in Asian countries for centuries, scientifically rigorous evidence is lacking for standardizing therapeutic parameters. To address this problem, it is necessary to examine the parameters of acupuncture using scientific methodology. The goal of this study is to investigate various therapeutic parameters, including manipulation, retention, and frequency of acupuncture, and their contribution to the efficacy of acupuncture in VD. METHODS We selected needle retention, treatment frequency, and needle rotation as the parameters. Acupuncture was performed on acupoints ST36 and GV20. Morris Water Maze was selected to assess the effect of acupuncture on cognitive function and Nissl staining indicated the hippocampal neuronal damage in VD rats. RESULTS Acupuncture stimulation resulted in a significant improvement in the spatial learning and memory deficit and reversed neuronal damage in the hippocampus. The approach of needle retention with 10 min, rotation for 30s every 5 min or daily treatment with acupuncture was more effective than nonretention, nonrotation, or alternative day treatment group. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that needle retention, treatment frequency, and needle manipulation are important factors in improving the learning and memory as well as reducing the neuronal damage of the hippocampus in a rat VD model. These findings strongly suggest that the appropriate therapeutic parameters could significant influence the efficiency in animal experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na-Na Yang
- Acupuncture Research Center, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Si-Ming Ma
- Beijing Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing-Wen Yang
- Acupuncture Research Center, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Tian-Ran Li
- Beijing Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Cun-Zhi Liu
- Acupuncture Research Center, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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14
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Electroacupuncture Improved Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion-Induced Anxiety-Like Behavior and Memory Impairments in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats by Downregulating the ACE/Ang II/AT1R Axis and Upregulating the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/MasR Axis. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:9076042. [PMID: 32184813 PMCID: PMC7061137 DOI: 10.1155/2020/9076042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Electroacupuncture (EA) can effectively alleviate anxiety disorders and memory impairments caused by various neurodegenerative diseases; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its neuroprotective effects are unclear. Previous studies have shown that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) comprises of two axes with mutual antagonism: the classical angiotensin converting enzyme/angiotensin II/angiotensin II type 1 receptor (ACE/Ang II/AT1R) axis and the protective angiotensin converting enzyme 2/angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas receptor (ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/MasR) axis. In this study, we observed that chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) mediated anxiety-like behavior and memory impairments in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) via upregulation of the hippocampal classical axis (ACE/Ang II/AT1R) and the partial hippocampal protective axis (ACE2/Ang-(1-7)). However, Ang II levels were much higher than those of Ang-(1–7), indicating that the ACE/Ang II/AT1R axis plays a dominant role in the comorbidity of CCH and hypertension. Moreover, candesartan cilexetil (Canc) and perindopril (Peril) were used as positive control drugs. We found that EA, Canc, and Peril attenuated CCH-induced anxiety-like behavior and memory impairments in SHR, potentially via downregulation of the hippocampal classical axis (ACE/Ang II/AT1R) and upregulation of the whole hippocampal protective axis (ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/MasR). These results suggest that EA therapy for CCH with hypertension may be mediated by two hippocampal RAS axes.
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15
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Han B, Jiang W, Liu H, Wang J, Zheng K, Cui P, Feng Y, Dang C, Bu Y, Wang QM, Ju Z, Hao J. Upregulation of neuronal PGC-1α ameliorates cognitive impairment induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:2832-2848. [PMID: 32194838 PMCID: PMC7052889 DOI: 10.7150/thno.37119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress occur in vascular dementia (VaD), but the specific molecular mechanism regulating these events remains unclear. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ co-activator-1α (PGC-1α) is a master regulator for mitochondrial function. This study aims to investigate whether PGC-1α is involved in the pathophysiology of VaD. Methods: We firstly generated PGC-1α f/f Eno2-Cre mice to induce neuron-specific overexpression of PGC-1α by crossbreeding PGC-1α f/f mice with Eno2-cre mice. Then, the mice were subjected to bilateral common carotid artery stenosis to induce chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Neurological function and hippocampal PGC-1α expression was evaluated. Next, RNA-Seq analysis and Seahorse assay were performed on the hippocampal neurons. In addition, mitochondrial antioxidants, uncoupling proteins, ROS production and the activation of glial cells were also measured. Results: Our results showed that hippocampal PGC-1α expression is down-regulated in the mouse VaD model induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. In contrast, neuronal PGC-1α overexpression significantly ameliorated cognitive deficits. RNA-Seq analysis indicated that PGC-1α improved energy metabolism of neurons under hypoxic condition, and Seahorse assay confirmed that PGC-1α increases the metabolic activity of neurons. Further study demonstrated that PGC-1α boosted the expressions of mitochondrial antioxidants and uncoupling proteins (UCPs), including SOD2, Prx3, GPx1, UCP2, UCP4 and UCP5, which in turn reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Moreover, the activation of microglia and astrocytes was also found to decrease in the hippocampus. All of these changes greatly contributed to protect hippocampal neurons against ischemic insults. Conclusions: PGC-1α could suppress the excessive ROS and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus, opening up a potential therapeutic target for cognitive impairment.
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16
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Zhang H, Wang Z, Meng L, Kuang H, Liu J, Lv X, Pang Q, Fan R. Maternal exposure to environmental bisphenol A impairs the neurons in hippocampus across generations. Toxicology 2020; 432:152393. [PMID: 32027964 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2020.152393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Humans from fetal to adult stages are chronically and passively exposed to bisphenol A (BPA, an endocrine disruptor) due to its ubiquitous existence in daily life. To investigate the long-term neurotoxicity of maternal exposure to BPA for offspring, mice were used as the animal model. In this study, pregnant mice (F0) were orally dosed with BPA (i.e. mice from low-, medium- and high-exposed groups were treated with 0.5, 50, 5000 μg/kg·bw of BPA per day) until weaning. Then, the first generation (F1) mice were used to generate the F2 ones. The offspring of mice not exposed to BPA served as the control groups. The Y-maze test, comet assay, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining method, Golgi-Cox assay and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) were conducted to study any alterations to learning and memory abilities, the morphological variations in hippocampal neurons and transmitter levels of F1 and F2 mice induced by BPA exposure. Results showed that even a low-dose of maternal BPA exposure could sex-dependently and significantly impair the learning and memory ability of F1 male mice, but not of generation F2. Furthermore, decreased neuron quantities and spine densities in hippocampi were observed in both F1 and F2 generations after maternal BPA exposure. However, DNA damage of brain cells were only limited to F1 offspring, in which DNA damage was only observed in the low-exposed male mice and medium-exposed female mice. Additionally, maternal BPA exposure leads to variations in hippocampal neurotransmitter levels, indicated by the decreased ratio of Glu/GABA in F1 offspring. In conclusion, maternal exposure to an environmental dose of BPA resulted in lasting adverse effects on neurological development for offspring mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibin Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Drug and Food Biological Resources Processing and Comprehensive Utilization, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Zhouyu Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Drug and Food Biological Resources Processing and Comprehensive Utilization, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Lingxue Meng
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Drug and Food Biological Resources Processing and Comprehensive Utilization, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Hongxuan Kuang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Drug and Food Biological Resources Processing and Comprehensive Utilization, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Drug and Food Biological Resources Processing and Comprehensive Utilization, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Xuejing Lv
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Drug and Food Biological Resources Processing and Comprehensive Utilization, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Qihua Pang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Drug and Food Biological Resources Processing and Comprehensive Utilization, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Ruifang Fan
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Drug and Food Biological Resources Processing and Comprehensive Utilization, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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Moxibustion therapy improving delayed memory deficits via promoting neurogenesis and angiogenesis of hippocampus in a vascular dementia rat model. JOURNAL OF ACUPUNCTURE AND TUINA SCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11726-019-1140-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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18
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Jiang J, Liu G, Shi S, Li Y, Li Z. Effects of manual acupuncture combined with donepezil in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Acupunct Med 2019; 37:64-71. [PMID: 30843424 DOI: 10.1136/acupmed-2016-011310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To explore whether combined therapy with donepezil and acupuncture is better than treatment with donepezil or acupuncture individually in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. METHODS In this study, we randomly divided 40 7.5-month-old senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) male mice into four groups: SAMP8, SAMP8+D, SAMP8+MA and SAMP8+D+MA. An additional 10 7.5-month-old SAMR1 male mice were included as a healthy control group (SAMR1). Mice in the SAMP8+D group were given donepezil at a dose of 0.65 µg/g/day; mice in the SAMP8+MA group underwent manual acupuncture at GV20, GV26 and Yintang for 20 min per day; mice in the SAMP8+D+MA received both donepezil and manual acupuncture; and mice in the SAMR1 and SAMP8 groups underwent restraint only to control for the effects of handling. After the 15-day treatment, the Morris water maze test, micro-PET(positron-emission tomography), H&E (haematoxylin and eosin) staining, and immunohistochemistry were used to study the differences between donepezil (SAMP8+D), acupuncture (SAMP8+MA), and donepezil combined with acupuncture (SAMP8+D+MA) therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. RESULTS We found that, compared with the untreated SAMP8 group, donepezil, manual acupuncture, and combined therapy with donepezil and manual acupuncture all improved spatial learning and memory ability, the level of glucose metabolism in the brain, and the content of Aβ amyloid in the cortex. Moreover, combined therapy outperformed treatment with donepezil or acupuncture individually in the SAMP8 mice. CONCLUSION This study shows that the combination of manual acupuncture and donepezil in an Alzheimer's disease animal model is superior to acupuncture and donezepil alone. However, randomised controlled trials should be undertaken to clarify the clinical efficacy of combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Jiang
- 1 Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Liu
- 2 Community Health Service Center of Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Suhua Shi
- 3 Third affiliated hospital of Beijing university of Chinese medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yujie Li
- 1 Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhigang Li
- 1 Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Meng Z, Zhu W, Wang D, Li R, Jia M, Yan S, Yan J, Zhou Z. 1H NMR-based serum metabolomics analysis of the age-related metabolic effects of perinatal exposure to BPA, BPS, BPF, and BPAF in female mice offspring. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:5804-5813. [PMID: 30613871 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-4004-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The widespread application of bisphenols (BPs) in the industry has made them ubiquitous in the environment, causing potential environmental risks. Its unknown impacts on human being have received more and more attention. In this study, we have assessed the metabolic effects of perinatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and its substitutes (bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (BPF), and bisphenol AF (BPAF)) in female mice adolescent offspring and female mice adulthood offspring. 1H NMR-based serum metabolomics showed that metabolic profiles were disturbed with BPA and its three substitutes exposure in female mice adolescent offspring and female mice adulthood offspring. In addition, age-related metabolic effects were found based on changes in serum endogenous metabolites and metabolic pathways. Specifically, metabolic pathway analysis showed that major disturbed metabolic pathways in female mice adulthood offspring compare with female mice adolescent offspring also changed significantly. With the increase of age of the female mice offspring, changes in the metabolic pathways became more obvious in the BPA treatment group. Conversely, partially disturbed metabolic pathways were restored in the BPS, BPF, and BPAF treatment groups. In conclusion, perinatal exposure to BPA and its three substitutes significantly interferes with metabolic profiles and metabolic pathways, and this metabolic effects were age-related. These results offer more detailed information about the age-related metabolic effects of perinatal exposure to BPA, BPS, BPF, and BPAF in female mice offspring and provide data for systematic evaluation of the health risk assessment of BPA and its substitutes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Meng
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Department of Applied Chemistry, China Agricultural University, 100193, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wentao Zhu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Department of Applied Chemistry, China Agricultural University, 100193, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Dezhen Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Department of Applied Chemistry, China Agricultural University, 100193, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruisheng Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Department of Applied Chemistry, China Agricultural University, 100193, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Jia
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Department of Applied Chemistry, China Agricultural University, 100193, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Sen Yan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Department of Applied Chemistry, China Agricultural University, 100193, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Yan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Department of Applied Chemistry, China Agricultural University, 100193, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiqiang Zhou
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Department of Applied Chemistry, China Agricultural University, 100193, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
- , Yuanmingyuan west road 2, 100193, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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Zhang ZY, Liu Z, Deng HH, Chen Q. Effects of acupuncture on vascular dementia (VD) animal models: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Altern Ther Health Med 2018; 18:302. [PMID: 30424749 PMCID: PMC6234685 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-018-2345-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia that causes cognitive dysfunction. Acupuncture, an ancient therapy, has been mentioned for the treatment of vascular dementia in previous studies. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of acupuncture in animal models of vascular dementia. METHODS Experimental animal studies of treating vascular dementia with acupuncture were gathered from Embase, PubMed and Ovid Medline (R) from the dates of the databases' creation to December 2016. We adopted the CAMARADES 10-item checklist to evaluate the quality of the included studies. The Morris water maze test was considered as an outcome measure. The software Stata12.0 was used for the meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was examined using I2 statistics, and we conducted subgroup analyses to determine the causes of heterogeneity for escape latency and duration in original platform. RESULTS Sixteen studies involving 363 animals met the inclusion criteria. The included studies scored between 4 and 8 points, and the mean was 5.44. The results of the meta-analysis indicated remarkable differences with acupuncture on increasing the duration in the former platform quadrant both in EO models (SMD = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.02 ~ 2.11; p < 0.00001) and 2-VO models (SMD 4.29, 95% CI 3.23 ~ 5.35; p < 0.00001) compared with the control groups. CONCLUSIONS Acupuncture may be effective in improving cognitive function in vascular dementia animal models. The mechanisms of acupuncture for vascular dementia are multiple such as anti-apoptosis, antioxidative stress reaction, and metabolism enhancing of glucose and oxygen.
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Tida JA, Catalão CHR, Garcia CAB, Dos Santos AC, Salmon CEG, Lopes LDS. Acupuncture at ST36 exerts neuroprotective effects via inhibition of reactive astrogliosis in infantile rats with hydrocephalus. Acupunct Med 2018; 36:386-393. [PMID: 30143513 DOI: 10.1136/acupmed-2017-011515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acupuncture has been associated with improved cerebral circulation, analgesia, neuromodulatory function and neurogenesis. In particular, acupuncture at ST36 has been widely used in several central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases. However, its effects on hydrocephalus have not been studied. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of acupuncture at ST36 on behaviour, motor development and reactive astrogliosis in infantile rats with hydrocephalus. METHODS Hydrocephalus was induced in sixteen 7-day-old pup rats by injection of 20% kaolin into the cisterna magna. One day after hydrocephalus induction, acupuncture was applied once daily (for 30 min) for a total of 21 days in eight randomly selected animals (HAc group) while the remaining eight remained untreated (H group). An additional eight healthy animals were included as controls (C group). All animals were weighed daily and, from the fifth day after hydrocephalus induction, underwent MRI to determine the ventricular ratio (VR). Rats were also exposed to modified open-field tests every 3 days until the end of the experiment. After 21 days all the animals were euthanased and their brains removed for histology and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Hydrocephalic rats showed an increase in VR when compared with control rats (P<0.01). In addition, these animals exhibited delayed weight gain, which was attenuated with acupuncture treatment. Hydrocephalic animals treated with acupuncture performed better in open field tests (P<0.05), and had a reduction in reactive astrocyte cell density in the corpus callosum and external capsule, as assessed by GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) immunohistochemistry (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that acupuncture at ST36 has a neuroprotective potential mediated, in part, by inhibition of astrogliosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Atsuko Tida
- Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlos Henrique Rocha Catalão
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.,Minas Gerais State University, Passos, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Camila Araújo Bernardino Garcia
- Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antônio Carlos Dos Santos
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlos Ernesto Garrido Salmon
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Philosophy, Science and Languages of Ribeirão Preto University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiza da Silva Lopes
- Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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22
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The Effect of Electroacupuncture versus Manual Acupuncture through the Expression of TrkB/NF- κB in the Subgranular Zone of the Dentate Gyrus of Telomerase-Deficient Mice. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2018; 2018:1013978. [PMID: 29849690 PMCID: PMC5937603 DOI: 10.1155/2018/1013978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Our previous study showed that the acupuncture stimulation on the acupoint (ST-36) could activate the brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) signaling pathways in telomerase-deficient mice. Recently, we set out to investigate whether the manual acupuncture (MA) or electroacupuncture (EA) displays a therapeutic advantage on age-related deterioration of learning and memory. Both telomerase-deficient mice (Terc−/− group, n = 24) and wild-type mice (WT group, n = 24) were randomly assigned to 3 subgroups (CON, controls with no treatment; MA, mice receiving manual acupuncture; EA, mice receiving electric acupuncture). The mice were subjected to behavior test, and EA/MA were applied at bilateral acupoints (ST36) 30 min daily for 7 successive days. The brain tissues were collected after the last Morris water maze (MWM) test and were subjected to the immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. The MWM test showed that EA can significantly increase the time in target quadrant (P ≤ 0.01) and frequency of locating platform for Terc−/− mice (P ≤ 0.05), while nothing changed in WT mice. Furthermore, western blotting and immunohistochemistry suggested that EA could also specifically increase the expression of TrkB and NF-κB in Terc−/− mice but not in wild-type mice (P ≤ 0.05). Meanwhile, the expression level and ratio of ERK/p-ERK did not exhibit significant changes in each subgroup. These results indicated that, compared with MA, the application of EA could specifically ameliorate the spatial learning and memory capability for telomerase-deficient mice through the activation of TrkB and NF-κB.
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23
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Zhu W, Wang XR, Du SQ, Yan CQ, Yang NN, Lin LL, Shi GX, Liu CZ. Anti-oxidative and Anti-apoptotic Effects of Acupuncture: Role of Thioredoxin-1 in the Hippocampus of Vascular Dementia Rats. Neuroscience 2018; 379:281-291. [PMID: 29592844 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that acupuncture treatment has anti-oxidative effects that affect cognitive impairment in vascular dementia (VD) rats. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1)/thioredoxin reductase-1 (TrxR-1) was involved in the beneficial effects of acupuncture. After 2-weeks of acupuncture treatment, Morris water maze (MWM), dihydroethidium (DHE) staining, Nissl staining and TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining were used to assess the effects of acupuncture on cognitive function and hippocampal neuronal injury in two-vessel occlusion (2VO) model. The protein and mRNA levels of Trx-1 and TrxR-1, the activity of TrxR-1 as well as the phosphorylation of the apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1)-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/p38 pathway were measured by Western blot, real-time PCR analysis, TrxR-1 activity analysis and immunofluorescence (IF) staining respectively. We found that there were oxidative and apoptotic injury in the CA1 area, accompanied with the decreased expressions of Trx-1 and TrxR-1 in the hippocampus. Acupuncture ameliorated cognitive deficits caused by cerebral ischemic injury and inhibited oxidative stress and neuronal apoptotic injury in the hippocampus. Acupuncture also up-regulated the expressions of Trx-1 and TrxR-1, increased the activity of TrxR-1, accompanied with inhibiting the activation of the ASK1-JNK/p38 pathway. However, the effects of acupuncture on improving cognitive function, inhibiting oxidative stress and neuron apoptotic damage were blocked by Trx-1siRNA. In conclusion, these findings indicated that acupuncture treatment improved VD though anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic mechanisms which involved the up-regulations of Trx-1/TrxR-1 and inhibitions of ASK1-JNK/p38 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Zhu
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xue-Rui Wang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Si-Qi Du
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chao-Qun Yan
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Na-Na Yang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Lu-Lu Lin
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Guang-Xia Shi
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Cun-Zhi Liu
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
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24
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Xiao LY, Wang XR, Yang JW, Ye Y, Zhu W, Cao Y, Ma SM, Liu CZ. Acupuncture Prevents the Impairment of Hippocampal LTP Through β1-AR in Vascular Dementia Rats. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:7677-7690. [PMID: 29435917 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-0943-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
It is widely accepted that the synaptic dysfunction and synapse loss contribute to the cognitive deficits of vascular dementia (VD) patients. We have previously reported that acupuncture improved cognitive function in rats with VD. However, the mechanisms involved in acupuncture improving cognitive ability remain to be elucidated. The present study aims to investigate the pathways and molecules involved in the neuroprotective effect of acupuncture. We assessed the effects of acupuncture on hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), the most prominent cellular model of memory formation. Acupuncture enhanced LTP and norepinephrine (NE) levels in the hippocampus. Inhibition of the β-adrenergic receptor (AR), but not the α-AR, was able to block the effects of acupuncture on hippocampal LTP. Furthermore, inhibition of β1-AR, not β2-AR, abolished the enhanced LTP induced by acupuncture. The expression analysis revealed a significant upregulation of β1-AR and unchanged β2-AR with acupuncture, which supported the above findings. Specifically, increased β1-ARs in the dentate gyrus were expressed on neurons exclusively. Taken together, the present data supports a beneficial role of acupuncture in synaptic plasticity challenged with VD. A likely mechanism is the increase of NE and activation of β1-AR in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Yong Xiao
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China.,Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 6 Fangxingyuan 1st Block, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100078, China
| | - Xue-Rui Wang
- Beijing Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Jing-Wen Yang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Ye
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 6 Fangxingyuan 1st Block, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100078, China
| | - Wen Zhu
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Cao
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Si-Ming Ma
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Cun-Zhi Liu
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 6 Fangxingyuan 1st Block, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100078, China.
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25
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Xiao LY, Wang XR, Yang Y, Yang JW, Cao Y, Ma SM, Li TR, Liu CZ. Applications of Acupuncture Therapy in Modulating Plasticity of Central Nervous System. Neuromodulation 2017; 21:762-776. [PMID: 29111577 DOI: 10.1111/ner.12724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Acupuncture is widely applied for treatment of various neurological disorders. This manuscript will review the preclinical evidence of acupuncture in mediating neural plasticity, the mechanisms involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS We searched acupuncture, plasticity, and other potential related words at the following sites: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and VIP information data base. The following keywords were used: acupuncture, electroacupuncture, plasticity, neural plasticity, neuroplasticity, neurogenesis, neuroblast, stem cell, progenitor cell, BrdU, synapse, synapse structure, synaptogenesis, axon, axon regeneration, synaptic plasticity, LTP, LTD, neurotrophin, neurotrophic factor, BDNF, GDNF, VEGF, bFGF, EGF, NT-3, NT-4, NT-5, p75NTR, neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, noradrenaline, dopamine, monamine. We assessed the effects of acupuncture on plasticity under pathological conditions in this review. RESULTS Relevant references were reviewed and presented to reflect the effects of acupuncture on neural plasticity. The acquired literatures mainly focused on neurogenesis, alterations of synapses, neurotrophins (NTs), and neurotranimitters. Acupuncture methods mentioned in this article include manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture. CONCLUSIONS The cumulative evidences demonstrated that acupuncture could induce neural plasticity in rodents exposed to cerebral ischemia. Neural plasticity mediated by acupuncture in other neural disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression, were also investigated and there is evidence of positive role of acupuncture induced plasticity in these disorders as well. Mediation of neural plasticity by acupuncture is likely associated with its modulation on NTs and neurotransmitters. The exact mechanisms underlying acupuncture's effects on neural plasticity remain to be elucidated. Neural plasticity may be the potential bridge between acupuncture and the treatment of various neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Yong Xiao
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Neuromodulation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xue-Rui Wang
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Neuromodulation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ye Yang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jing-Wen Yang
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Neuromodulation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Cao
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Neuromodulation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Si-Ming Ma
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Neuromodulation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tian-Ran Li
- Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Cun-Zhi Liu
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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26
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Yang XN, Li CS, Chen C, Tang XY, Cheng GQ, Li X. Protective effect of Shouwu Yizhi decoction against vascular dementia by promoting angiogenesis. Chin J Nat Med 2017; 15:740-750. [PMID: 29103459 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(17)30105-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Shouwu is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with neuroprotective effect. Shouwu Yizhi decoction (SYD) was designed based on TCM theory. However, little is known about the roles of SYD in Vascular dementia (VaD). The present study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of SYD on the vascular cognitive impairment and explore the underlying mechanism by establishing focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) rat model to induce VaD. SYD administration (54 mg·kg-1) for 40 days obviously improved the vascular cognitive impairment in the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats as evidenced by the declined neurological deficit score and shortened escape latency via neurological deficit assessment and Morris water maze test. Moreover, SYD decreased neuron damage-induced cell death and ameliorated the ultrastructure of endothelial cells in the MCAO rats, thereby alleviating VaD. Mechanistically, SYD caused increases in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD34 and CD31, compared with the MCAO rats in coronal hippocampus. Simultaneously, the expression level of miR-210 was elevated significantly after SYD administration, compared with the vehicle rats (P < 0.01). The expression of Notch 4 at both mRNA and protein levels was upregulated remarkably along with the notably downregulated DLL4 expression under SYD administration compared with the vehicle rats (P < 0.05). Overall, the above results indicated that SYD promoted angiogenesis by upregulating VEGF-induced miR210 expression to activate Notch pathway, and further alleviated neuron damage and ameliorated the ultrastructure of endothelial cells in the MCAO rats, ultimately enhancing the cognition and memory of MCAO rats. Therefore, our findings preliminarily identified the effect and the mechanism of action for SYD on VaD in rats. SYD could be a potential candidate in treatment of VaD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Ni Yang
- Department of Tranditional Chinese Medicine Shandong Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Chang-Sheng Li
- Department of Tranditional Chinese Medicine Shandong Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Chao Chen
- Department of Tranditional Chinese Medicine Shandong Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Xiao-Yong Tang
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, Shandong Tumor Hospital, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Guang-Qing Cheng
- Department of Tranditional Chinese Medicine Shandong Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan 250014, China.
| | - Xia Li
- Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Traditional Chinese Medicine Immunology Institute of Basic Medicine Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, China.
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27
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Zhou Y, Wang Z, Xia M, Zhuang S, Gong X, Pan J, Li C, Fan R, Pang Q, Lu S. Neurotoxicity of low bisphenol A (BPA) exposure for young male mice: Implications for children exposed to environmental levels of BPA. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2017; 229:40-48. [PMID: 28577381 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.05.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2016] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
To investigate the neuron toxicities of low-dose exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) in children, mice were used as an animal model. We examined brain cell damage and the effects of learning and memory ability after BPA exposure in male mice (4 weeks of age) that were divided into four groups and chronically received different BPA treatments for 8 weeks. The comet assay and hippocampal neuron counting were used to detect the brain cell damage. The Y-maze test was applied to test alterations in learning and memory ability. Long term potentiation induction by BPA exposure was performed to study the potential mechanism of performance. The percentages of tail DNA, tail length and tail moment in brain cells increased with increasing BPA exposure concentrations. Significant differences in DNA damage were observed among the groups, including between the low-dose and control groups. In the Y-maze test, the other three groups qualified for the learned standard one day earlier than the high-exposed group. Furthermore, the ratio of qualified mice in the high-exposed group was always the lowest among the groups, indicating that high BPA treatment significantly altered the spatial memory performance of mice. Different BPA treatments exerted different effects on the neuron numbers of different regions in the hippocampus. In the CA1 region, the high-exposed group had a significant decrease in neuron numbers. A non-monotonic relationship was observed between the exposure concentrations and neuron quantity in the CA3 region. The hippocampal slices in the control and medium-exposed groups generated long-term potentiation after induction by theta burst stimulation, but the low-exposed group did not. A significant difference was observed between the control and low-exposed groups. In conclusion, chronic exposure to a low level of BPA had adverse effects on brain cells and altered the learning and memory ability of adolescent mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanxiu Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Drug and Food Biological Resources Processing and Comprehensive Utilization, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 510631, China
| | - Zhouyu Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Drug and Food Biological Resources Processing and Comprehensive Utilization, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 510631, China
| | - Minghan Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Siyi Zhuang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Drug and Food Biological Resources Processing and Comprehensive Utilization, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 510631, China
| | - Xiaobing Gong
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Jianwen Pan
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Drug and Food Biological Resources Processing and Comprehensive Utilization, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 510631, China
| | - Chuhua Li
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Drug and Food Biological Resources Processing and Comprehensive Utilization, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 510631, China
| | - Ruifang Fan
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Drug and Food Biological Resources Processing and Comprehensive Utilization, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 510631, China.
| | - Qihua Pang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Drug and Food Biological Resources Processing and Comprehensive Utilization, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 510631, China
| | - Shaoyou Lu
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, 518055, China
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Wu JS, Lo HY, Li CC, Chen FY, Hsiang CY, Ho TY. Comprehensive evaluation of gene expression signatures in response to electroacupuncture stimulation at Zusanli (ST36) acupoint by transcriptomic analysis. BMC COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2017; 17:406. [PMID: 28810910 PMCID: PMC5556347 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1911-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Electroacupuncture (EA) has been applied to treat and prevent diseases for years. However, molecular events happened in both the acupunctured site and the internal organs after EA stimulation have not been clarified. Methods Here we applied transcriptomic analysis to explore the gene expression signatures after EA stimulation. Mice were applied EA stimulation at ST36 for 15 min and nine tissues were collected three hours later for microarray analysis. Results We found that EA affected the expression of genes not only in the acupunctured site but also in the internal organs. EA commonly affected biological networks involved in cytoskeleton and cell adhesion, and also regulated unique process networks in specific organs, such as γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic neurotransmission in brain and inflammation process in lung. In addition, EA affected the expression of genes related to various diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases in brain and obstructive pulmonary diseases in lung. Conclusions This report applied, for the first time, a global comprehensive genome-wide approach to analyze the gene expression profiling of acupunctured site and internal organs after EA stimulation. The connection between gene expression signatures, biological processes, and diseases might provide a basis for prediction and explanation on the therapeutic potentials of acupuncture in organs.
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29
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Mechanisms of Acupuncture Therapy for Cerebral Ischemia: an Evidence-Based Review of Clinical and Animal Studies on Cerebral Ischemia. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2017; 12:575-592. [DOI: 10.1007/s11481-017-9747-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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30
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Acupuncture Improved Neurological Recovery after Traumatic Brain Injury by Activating BDNF/TrkB Pathway. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2017; 2017:8460145. [PMID: 28243312 PMCID: PMC5294361 DOI: 10.1155/2017/8460145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Revised: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
How to promote neural repair following traumatic brain injury (TBI) has long been an intractable problem. Although acupuncture has been demonstrated to facilitate the neurological recovery, the underlying mechanism is elusive. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) exerts substantial protective effects for neurological disorders. In this study, we found that the level of BDNF and tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) was elevated spontaneously after TBI and reached up to the peak at 12 h. Nevertheless, this enhancement is quickly declined to the normal at 48 h. After combined stimulation at the acupoints of Baihui, Renzhong, Hegu, and Zusanli, we found that BDNF and TrkB were still significantly elevated at 168 h. We also observed that the downstream molecular p-Akt and p-Erk1/2 were significantly increased, suggesting that acupuncture could persistently activate the BDNF/TrkB pathway. To further verify that acupuncture improved recovery through activating BDNF/TrkB pathway, K252a (specific inhibitor of TrkB) was treated by injection stereotaxically into lateral ventricle. We observed that K252a could significantly prevent the acupuncture-induced amelioration of motor, sensation, cognition, and synaptic plasticity. These data indicated that acupuncture promoted the recovery of neurological impairment after TBI by activating BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway, providing new molecular mechanism for understanding traditional therapy of acupuncture.
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Mechanisms of acupuncture on vascular dementia-A review of animal studies. Neurochem Int 2016; 107:204-210. [PMID: 28034725 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2016.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Revised: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second leading type of dementia after Alzheimer's disease plaguing the aging population. Acupuncture has served as alternative and complementary medicine in the world for a long time and its use for VaD is based on a large body of preclinical and clinical researches. The mechanisms that underlie the protective effects of acupuncture are slowly beginning to be understood. Acupuncture influences multiple aspects of the pathological process of VaD. It improves cognitive function through protecting cerebral neurons from oxidative stress, apoptosis, and neuroinflammation, regulating glucose metabolism and neurotransmitters. Acupuncture may also improve synaptic plasticity and blood vessel function. It is likely that no single factor can explain the protection provided by acupuncture. This review provides a comprehensive overview of established and recent findings in animal-based researches aiming to elucidate the complex mechanisms of acupuncture on VaD.
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Wang S, Yang H, Zhang J, Zhang B, Liu T, Gan L, Zheng J. Efficacy and safety assessment of acupuncture and nimodipine to treat mild cognitive impairment after cerebral infarction: a randomized controlled trial. BMC COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2016; 16:361. [PMID: 27623621 PMCID: PMC5022140 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-016-1337-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background Cerebral infarction frequently leads to mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Prompt management of MCI can prevent vascular dementia and improve patient outcome. This single center randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture and nimodipine to treat post-cerebral infarction MCI. Methods A total of 126 Chinese patients with post-cerebral infarction MCI recruited from the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between April 2013 and June 2014 were randomized at 1:1: 1 ratio into nimodipine alone (30 mg/time and 3 times daily), acupuncture alone (30 min/time, 6 times/week), and nimodipine + acupuncture groups. The treatments were 3 months. Cognitive function was evaluated using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale at enrollment interview, at the end of 3-month therapy, and at the post-treatment 3-month follow-up. Results The per-protocol set included 39, 40, and 40 patients from nimodipine alone, acupuncture alone, and the combination group, respectively, was analyzed. Intra-group comparison revealed that MoCA score at the follow-up improved significantly by 15.8 ± 10.9, 20.9 ± 13.8 %, and 30.2 ± 19.7 % compared with the baseline MoCA for nimodipine alone, acupuncture alone, and the combination group, respectively. Inter-group comparison demonstrated that the combination therapy improved MoCA score (5.5 ± 2.2) at significantly higher extent than nimodipine alone (3.1 ± 1.8) and acupuncture alone (4.3 ± 2.3) at the follow-up (All P < 0.05), and significantly higher proportion of patients in acupuncture alone group (80 %) and the combination therapy group (90 %) than in nimodipine alone group (56.4 %) showed ≥12 % MoCA score improvement compared with the baseline MoCA (All P < 0.05). No adverse event was reported during the study. Conclusion Acupuncture may be used as an additional therapy to conventional pharmacological treatment to further improve the clinical outcomes of patients with post-cerebral infarction MCI. Trial registration The study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn/, Unique Identifier: ChiCTR-IOR-15007366). The date of registration is November 4, 2015. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1337-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Huang KY, Liang S, Yu ML, Fu SP, Chen X, Lu SF. A systematic review and meta-analysis of acupuncture for improving learning and memory ability in animals. Altern Ther Health Med 2016; 16:297. [PMID: 27543143 PMCID: PMC4992193 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-016-1298-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Background Memory loss is the most prominent symptoms of brain aging, but there is currently no evidence-based treatment strategy. Acupuncture has been widely used in China and the effectiveness for improving learning and memory has been mentioned in previous studies. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture for improving learning and memory in animal experiments. Methods We searched Pubmed, Embase, Ovid Medline(R), the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP) and Wanfang data Information Site to collect studies published up to December 2015. Study quality for each included article was evaluated according to the CAMARADES 10-item checklist. Outcome measure is Morris water maze. A meta-analysis was conducted according to the Cochrane systematic review method by using RevMan 5.3 software. Results Forty-two studies involving 944 animals were included. The quality score of the studies ranged from 2 to 8, with a mean of 5.3. Meta-analysis results showed that 24 studies reported significant effect of acupuncture for decreasing escape latency (−3.00, 95 % CI: −3.78 ~ −2.23, P < 0.00001), 14 studies reported significant effect of acupuncture for increasing frequency of cross platform (2.57, 95 % CI: 1.92 ~ 3.22, P < 0.00001), and 7 studies reported significant effect of acupuncture for increasing time in target quadrant (2.00, 95 % CI: 1.10 ~ 2.91, P < 0.00001) compared with the control group. Conclusions These findings show acupuncture has a potential role in improving learning and memory ability in animal models, suggesting it as a candidate therapy for memory loss of aged brain.
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Wang XR, Shi GX, Yang JW, Yan CQ, Lin LT, Du SQ, Zhu W, He T, Zeng XH, Xu Q, Liu CZ. Acupuncture ameliorates cognitive impairment and hippocampus neuronal loss in experimental vascular dementia through Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response. Free Radic Biol Med 2015; 89:1077-84. [PMID: 26546103 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2015.10.426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2015] [Revised: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests acupuncture could exert neuroprotection in the vascular dementia via anti-oxidative effects. However, the involvement of Nrf2, a master regulator of antioxidant defense, in acupuncture-induced neuroprotection in vascular dementia remains undetermined. The goal of our study was to investigate the contribution of Nrf2 in acupuncture and its effects on vascular dementia. Morris water maze and Nissl staining were used to assess the effect of acupuncture on cognitive function and hippocampal neurodegeneration in experimental vascular dementia. The distribution of Nrf2 in neurons in hippocampus, the protein expression of Nrf2 in both cytosol and nucleus, and the protein and mRNA levels of its downstream target genes NQO1 and HO-1 were detected by double immunofluorescent staining, Western blotting and realtime PCR analysis respectively. Cognitive function and microglia activation were measured in both wild-type and Nrf2 gene knockout mice after acupuncture treatment. We found that acupuncture could remarkably reverse the cognitive deficits, neuron cell loss, reactive oxygen species production, and decreased cerebral blood flow. It was notable that acupuncture enhanced nuclear translocation of Nrf2 in neurons and up-regulate the protein and mRNA levels of Nrf2 and its target genes HO-1 and NQO1. Moreover, acupuncture could significantly down-regulated the over-activation of microglia after common carotid artery occlusion surgery. However, the reversed cognitive deficits, neuron cell loss and microglia activation by acupuncture were abolished in Nrf2 gene knockout mice. In conclusion, these findings provide evidence that the neuroprotection of acupuncture in models of vascular dementia was via the Nrf2 activation and Nrf2-dependent microglia activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Rui Wang
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China
| | - Guang-Xia Shi
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China
| | - Jing-Wen Yang
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China
| | - Chao-Qun Yan
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China
| | - Li-Ting Lin
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China
| | - Si-Qi Du
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China
| | - Wen Zhu
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China
| | - Tian He
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China
| | - Xiang-Hong Zeng
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China
| | - Qian Xu
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China
| | - Cun-Zhi Liu
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China.
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