Effects of acupuncture and electroacupuncture on estradiol-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in health rodents

Dual effects of zearalenone on aflatoxin B1-induced liver and mammary gland toxicity in pregnant and lactating rats

Food and feed are frequently co-contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and zearalenone (ZEN). This study investigated the effects of ZEN on the AFB1-induced liver and mammary gland toxicity in pregnant and lactating rats. AFB1 and ZEN co-exposure inhibited the growth of rats and caused oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in the liver and mammary gland. Compared with the AFB1-only group, damage was aggravated in the AFB1 + 10 mg/kg ZEN group, and the AFB1 + 1 mg/kg ZEN group showed a reduction in some metrics. The metabolomic results of the mammary gland showed that metabolite changes were mainly in lipid, amino acid, and glucose metabolism. Compared with the AFB1 + 0 mg/kg ZEN group, the AFB1 + 1 mg/kg ZEN group had the most metabolite changes. Moreover, AFB1 and ZEN co-exposure reduced the levels of sex hormones and RNA m⁶A methylation in the mammary gland. We speculate that ZEN affects the toxicity of AFB1 to the liver and mammary gland by interfering with the function of sex hormones, regulating cell proliferation and metabolic processes.

Upregulation of Cyp19a1 and PPAR-γ in ovarian steroidogenic pathway by Ficus religiosa: A potential cure for polycystic ovary syndrome

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Quite a few plants are in use to treat female infertility and associated problems. Availing the cues from traditional knowledge, phytochemical studies and ethnopharmacological evidences, the aphrodisiac plant Ficus religiosa (F. religiosa) is widely in use to cure infertility in women. For instance, the juice of leaf and aerial root of F. religiosa is reported to normalize the dysregulated menstrual cycle in women. Besides, it is believed that regular circumambulation of F. religiosa during the early hours of the morning helps women in alleviating infertility which could be attributed to the potential phytovolatiles released from F. religiosa. However, the evidences for therapeutic potential of F. religiosa in treating female infertility are arbitrary and mostly anecdotal.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study was aimed at examining if extracts of fresh and/or dry leaf of F. religiosa would cure polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in the rat model.

METHODS

Rats were divided into seven groups; control (Group I), PCOS-induced (P.O, Letrozole -1 mg/kg BW for 21 days) and untreated (Group II), PCOS-induced and treated with the leaf extracts of F. religiosa (Groups III-VI), and, PCOS-induced and treated with pioglitazone (Group VII). The estrous intervals, body and organ weights (ovary and uterus), and serum hormones (testosterone, luteinizing hormone [LH], estrogen, and progesterone) were measured, and the expression of Cyp19a1 (aromatase), and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) were assessed in the experimental rats. The levels of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD), and antioxidants (MDA, GSH, GPx, SOD, and CAT) were also quantified. Besides, the putative volatile compounds in the esterified leaf extracts were identified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).

RESULTS

Letrozole treatment induced irregular estrous and altered weight of organs and hormonal milieu, which were reverted to normal in leaf extracts-treated PCOS-induced rats. Remarkably, fresh leaf treatment up-regulated Cyp19a1and PPAR-γ and increased the levels of 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD. We found 3-acetoxy-3-hydroxy-propionic acid in fresh and dry leaf extracts, which we attribute to efficacy of the extracts in alleviating PCOS.

CONCLUSION

Put together, our findings suggest the leaves of F. religiosa as potential in alleviating PCOS, mainly due to the presence of putative volatile molecules. Further screening of the leaves of F. religiosa is recommended to identify other key molecules and to develop a systematic therapeutic intervention for PCOS.

Electroacupuncture Inhibits Atherosclerosis through Regulating Intestinal Flora and Host Metabolites in Rabbit

Methods

In this study, general rabbit conditions, vascular histology, metabolites, and intestinal flora structures were analyzed. Integrated analysis of metabolomics and 16S rRNA sequencing were performed. All the rabbits were randomly divided into four groups. The rabbit model of atherosclerosis was established. The histopathological change in the common carotid artery was assessed by HE staining and the structural change in the flora by 16S rRNA sequencing. HPLC-TOF-MS and Agilent MPP 12.1 were integrated to identify and screen out differential metabolites. Correlational analyses of every differential metabolite with intestinal flora were integrated on Omicshare platform.

Results

Atherosclerotic rabbits showed obvious changes in general conditions, significant fibrous cap and necrotic center on carotid artery, abnormal intestinal bacteria structure, and metabolites levels. Electroacupuncture improved the conditions, reduced lipid deposition on the carotid artery wall, diversified intestinal flora, and normalized host metabolism. Integrated analysis showed that 149 altered metabolites were related to 22 intestinal flora, among which eight intestinal floras and 21 metabolites have relationships with atherosclerosis.

Conclusion

Electroacupuncture can effectively reverse atherosclerosis through manipulating the structural feature of intestinal flora to influence the host metabolites. The possible mechanisms involved activating signal pathways through host metabolites or affecting the activity of cardiovascular-related enzymes, or regulating host lipid metabolism directly.

Electroacupuncture pre‑conditioning protects from lung injury induced by limb ischemia/reperfusion through TLR4 and NF‑κB in rats

Limb ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) can induce inflammation, causing acute lung injury. The Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/NF-κB pathway plays an important role in acute and chronic inflammatory disorders. Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of acupuncture in lung inflammatory injury. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the mechanism underlying the protective effect of electroacupuncture (EA) against lung injury induced by limb I/R. EA applied at the Zusanli and Sanyinjiao acupoints attenuated lung injury and decreased the secretion of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and myeloperoxidase. Moreover, the expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB were suppressed by EA. Thus, the present findings suggested that EA can reduce pulmonary inflammation induced by limb I/R injury, possibly via the inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Sericin enhances the insulin-PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the liver of a type 2 diabetes rat model

The aim of the current study was to investigate the regulatory effect of sericin on the hepatic insulin-phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway in a type 2 diabetes rat model. Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: Control group, diabetic model group, high-dose sericin group and low-dose sericin group, with 12 rats in each group. Fasting blood glucose was detected by the glucose oxidase method, and hepatic glycogen was determined by periodic acid-Schiff staining. The morphology of the liver was observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Immunohistochemical staining, western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to determine the protein and mRNA expression levels of insulin receptor (IR), IR substrate-1 (IRS-1), PI3K and AKT. Compared with the control group, the blood glucose of the diabetic model group was significantly increased (P<0.05). The glycogen content and the expression levels of IR, IRS-1, PI3K and AKT in the diabetic model group were significantly lower (P<0.05), and the liver morphological structure of the diabetic model group exhibited obvious pathological changes compared with the control group. Compared with the diabetic model group, the blood glucose of the high- and low-dose sericin groups was significantly reduced, while the glycogen content and the expression levels of IR, IRS-1, PI3K and AKT in the sericin treatment groups were significantly increased (P<0.05). Additionally, the liver pathological changes of high-dose and low-dose sericin groups were markedly reduced. Sericin may enhance the signaling transduction effect of insulin by upregulating the expression levels of key factors (IR, IRS-1, PI3K and AKT) in the liver insulin-PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thus promoting glucose transport and liver glycogen synthesis, and further reducing blood glucose.

Acupuncture inhibits TXNIP-associated oxidative stress and inflammation to attenuate cognitive impairment in vascular dementia rats

AIMS

Oxidative stress and inflammation have been implicated in the pathogenesis of vascular dementia (VD). Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) plays a vital role in oxidative stress and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation. There is evidence that acupuncture has an antioxidative and neuroprotective effect in VD. In this study, we investigated whether acupuncture can attenuate cognitive impairment via inhibiting TXNIP-associated oxidative stress and inflammation in VD rats.

METHODS

Both common carotid arteries were occluded (2-vessel occlusion [2VO]) in rats to model VD. The neuroprotective effect of acupuncture was assessed by the Morris water maze and Nissl staining. Oxidative stress was assessed by detecting levels of reactive oxygen species, DNA oxidation, and antioxidase. Western blot, real-time PCR, and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of TXNIP, NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-1β. A TXNIP siRNA intraventricular injection was applied to investigate whether acupuncture mimicked the effect of TXNIP inhibitor.

RESULTS

Our findings demonstrated that VD rats treated with acupuncture had reduced hippocampal neuronal loss and oxidative stress. The upregulation of TXNIP, NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-1β induced by 2VO was also reversed by acupuncture. Furthermore, TXNIP siRNA had a similar effect as acupuncture on cognition, hippocampal neurons, and ROS production in VD rats.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our study suggests that the neuroprotective effects of acupuncture in VD are mediated through reducing expression of TXNIP-associated oxidative stress and inflammation.

Acupuncture mechanism and redox equilibrium

Oxidative stress participates in the pathological process of various diseases. Acupuncture is a component of the health care system in China that can be traced back for at least 3000 years. Recently, increased evidences indicate that acupuncture stimulation could reduce oxidative damage in organisms under pathological state, but the exact mechanism remains unclear. This review focuses on the emerging links between acupuncture and redox modulation in various disorders, such as vascular dementia, Parkinson's disease, and hypertension, ranging from redox system, antioxidant system, anti-inflammatory system, and nervous system to signaling pathway. Although the molecular and cellular pathways studies of acupuncture effect on oxidative stress are preliminary, they represent an important step forward in the research of acupuncture antioxidative effect.