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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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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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The immunolocalization of cluster of differentiation 31, phalloidin and alpha smooth muscle actin on vascular network of normal and ischemic rat brain. Sci Rep 2022; 12:22288. [PMID: 36566295 PMCID: PMC9789995 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26831-6] [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: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31), phalloidin and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) have been widely applied to label the cerebral blood vessels in the past years. Although CD31 is mainly used as endothelial marker in determining the cerebral capillaries, it seems likely that its labeling efficiency is closely correlated with the antibodies from the polyclonal or monoclonal one, as well as the conditions of blood vessels. In order to test this phenomenon, we compared the labeling characteristics of goat polyclonal anti-CD31 (gP-CD31) and mouse monoclonal anti-CD31 (mM-CD31) with those of phalloidin and α-SMA on the rat brain in health and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) with the middle cerebral artery occlusion. By multiple immunofluorescence staining, it was found that gP-CD31 labeling expressed extensively on the cerebral capillaries forming the vascular networks on the normal and ischemic regions, but mM-CD31 labeling mainly presented on the capillaries in the ischemic region. In contrast to the vascular labeling with gP-CD31, phalloidin and α-SMA were mainly expressed on the wall of cortical penetrating arteries, and less on that of capillaries. By three-dimensional reconstruction analysis, it was clearly shown that gP-CD31 labeling was mainly located on the lumen side of vascular wall and was surrounded by phalloidin labeling and α-SMA labeling. These results indicate that gP-CD31 is more sensitive than mM-CD31 for labeling the cerebral vasculature, and is highly compatible with phalloidin and α-SMA for evaluating the cerebral vascular networks under the physiological and pathological conditions.
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Nie CC, Su KQ, Gao J, Song XL, Lv Z, Yuan J, Luo M, Ruan XD, Fan YF, Yu MY, Qi SK, Feng XD. Bibliometric analysis: Research trends of acupuncture treatment to cognitive impairment in recent 15 years. Front Psychol 2022; 13:935053. [PMID: 36312172 PMCID: PMC9606323 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.935053] [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: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Acupuncture therapy has been used for cognitive impairment-related diseases, however, there are still few studies on the overall trend of acupuncture therapy on cognitive impairment based on bibliometric analysis. The purpose of this study was to explore the research trend of the impact of acupuncture on cognitive impairment in the past 15 years, analyze the research trends and hotspots, and provide new ideas and theoretical basis for future research directions. Methods From the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), the relevant literature on the treatment of cognitive impairment with acupuncture from 2007 to 2022 was retrieved. Then, based on the CiteSpace and VOSviewer software of the Java platform, the cooperation between countries and institutions in this field, the co-citation of journals and documents, and the cooperation between authors and authors, etc. were analyzed. In addition, the co-occurrence and burst analysis of keywords are also carried out, and a visual knowledge map is drawn. Results As of August 08, 2022, a total of 394 records related to the treatment of cognitive impairment with acupuncture were identified. The analysis results show: The number and rate of annual publications have steadily increased, with some fluctuations from year to year. The countries that contribute the most to this field are China and the USA. Among them, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Capital Medical University are tied for first place in terms of the number of published papers. Tao Jing is the most prolific author and the number one cited author. Conclusions The number of publications on acupuncture for cognitive impairment is expected to increase rapidly in future research, suggesting a bright future for the field. Future research hotspots will focus on pain, injury, protocol, diagnosis, guidelines, etc. It is also necessary to strengthen cross-regional and cross-country cooperation among various academic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Chen Nie
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Kai-Qi Su
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jing Gao
- Rehabilitation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Lei Song
- Rehabilitation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhuan Lv
- Rehabilitation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jie Yuan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Meng Luo
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Di Ruan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yong-Fu Fan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ming-Yue Yu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shi-Kui Qi
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Feng
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
- Rehabilitation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xiao-Dong Feng
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Acupuncture Interventions for Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Cognitive Disorders: A Review of Mechanisms. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:6080282. [PMID: 36211826 PMCID: PMC9534683 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6080282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive impairment (CI) related to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular cognitive disorders (VCDs) has become a key problem worldwide. Importantly, CI is a neuropsychiatric abnormality mainly characterized by learning and memory impairments. The hippocampus is an important brain region controlling learning and memory. Recent studies have highlighted the effects of acupuncture on memory deficits in AD and VCDs. By reviewing the literature published on this topic in the past five years, the present study intends to summarize the effects of acupuncture on memory impairment in AD and VCDs. Focusing on hippocampal synaptic plasticity, we reviewed the mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture on memory impairments through regulation of synaptic proteins, AD characteristic proteins, intestinal microbiota, neuroinflammation, microRNA expression, orexin system, energy metabolism, etc., suggesting that hippocampal synaptic plasticity may be the common as well as the core link underlying the above mechanisms. We also discussed the potential strategies to improve the effect of acupuncture. Additionally, the effects of acupuncture on synaptic plasticity through the regulation of vascular–glia–neuron unit were further discussed.
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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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Combination of stem cell therapy and acupuncture to treat ischemic stroke: a prospective review. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:87. [PMID: 35241146 PMCID: PMC8896103 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-02761-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Stroke is the second leading cause globally that leads to severe disability and death. Stem cell therapy has been developed over the recent years to treat stroke and diminish the mortality and disability rate of brain injuries. Acupuncture, which can activate endogenous recovery via physical stimuli, has been applied to enhance the recovery and rehabilitation of stroke patients. Attempts have been made to combine stem cell therapy and acupuncture to treat stroke patients and have shown the promising results. This prospective review will look into the possible mechanisms of stem cell therapy and acupuncture and intend to undercover the potential benefit of the combined therapy. It intends to bridge the modern emerging stem cell therapy and traditional acupuncture at cellular and molecular levels and to demonstrate the potential benefit to improve clinical outcomes.
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Hu T, Hu H, Chen F, Jiang B, Shen F, Su Y, Yang M, Hu J. The Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture for Prophylaxis of Vestibular Migraine: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. Front Neurol 2021; 12:709803. [PMID: 34335460 PMCID: PMC8319494 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.709803] [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: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: With a high incidence rate and low diagnosis rate, vestibular migraine (VM) can seriously affect the quality of life of patients, but it remains difficult to manage by current treatment options. Acupuncture may be a potential treatment option for VM prophylaxis, but the currently available evidence is still uncertain. Therefore, this trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for VM prophylaxis. Methods: This is a 28-week parallel, randomized, controlled clinical trial including 4 weeks of baseline, 8 weeks of treatment, and 16 weeks of follow-up. A total of 72 participants will be randomly assigned to two groups. The participants will receive acupuncture in the experimental group, while the participants in the control group will be treated with venlafaxine. The primary outcome measures are change in vertigo/migraine days and vertigo/migraine attacks, vertigo severity, and migraine intensity per 4 weeks from baseline. The secondary outcome measures are change in doses of rescue medication, anxiety level, depression level, and quality of life per 4 weeks from baseline. Adverse events will be recorded for safety evaluation. Discussion: This study will investigate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for VM prophylaxis. The results will contribute to determining whether acupuncture can serve as an optional treatment strategy for treating VM. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT0464088.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianye Hu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Hantong Hu
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Bin Jiang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Fengfei Shen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Yingying Su
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Mengyi Yang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Jin Hu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
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Xu XY, Fang Q, Huang W, Li BC, Zhou XH, Zhou ZY, Li J. Effect of Electroacupuncture on Neurological Deficit and Activity of Clock and Bmal1 in Cerebral Ischemic Rats. Curr Med Sci 2021; 40:1128-1136. [PMID: 33428141 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-020-2295-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Acute focal cerebral ischemic stroke (IS) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Acupuncture is an emerging alternative therapy that has been beneficial to acute brain ischemia. However, the underlying protective mechanism of its neuroprotective effect remains unclear. Human original circadian rhythm will be lost after IS, which seriously affects the quality of life and functional recovery of stroke patients. We hypothesize that acupuncture treats IS by regulating the balance of Clock and Bmal1. This study aims to explore the effect of acupuncture at acupoints GV20 and BL23 on neuroprotection and anti-apoptosis in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats and expression of apoptosis and circadian rhythm related proteins. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal group (Normal), sham model group (Sham MCAO), MCAO model group (MCAO), sham electroacupuncture group (Sham EA) and electroacupuncture group (EA). The MCAO model was prepared by electrocoagulation. The first acupuncture treatment was performed within 2 h after surgery, and then acupuncture therapy was performed on 1st day, 2nd day and 3rd day respectively. After their neurological examination at 72 h of ischemia, the rats from each group were sacrificed. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was used to evaluate the brain infarct size. Ultrastructural observation on cerebral ischemic cortex and serum inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. TUNEL staining was used to detect cell apoptosis of brain tissue. The expression levels of proteins Bax, bcl-2, caspase-3, Clock and Bmal1 in the cerebral ischemic region were detected by immunofluorescence staining. Here, we presented evidence that EA at GV20 and BL23 could significantly improve the neurological deficit score and infarct size, and alleviate the cell apoptosis of brain tissue. Moreover, acupuncture treatment upregulated the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2/Bax ratio and reversed the upregulation of caspase-3 following 72-h cerebral ischemia. In addition, the expression levels of circadian proteins Clock and Bmal1 were upregulated in EA group while compared with MCAO group. Our study demonstrated that acupuncture exerted neuroprotective effect against neuronal apoptosis after stroke and the mechanism might be related with regulation of circadian rhythm proteins Clock and Bmal1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yin Xu
- Hubei Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Preventive Treatment by Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, China
| | - Qi Fang
- Hubei Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Preventive Treatment by Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Hubei Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Preventive Treatment by Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, China
| | - Bo-Cun Li
- Department of Acupuncture, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Zhou
- Hubei Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Preventive Treatment by Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, China
| | - Zhong-Yu Zhou
- Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese medicine, Wuhan, 430061, China
| | - Jia Li
- Hubei Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Preventive Treatment by Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, China.
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Xu A, Zeng Q, Tang Y, Wang X, Yuan X, Zhou Y, Li Z. Electroacupuncture Protects Cognition by Regulating Tau Phosphorylation and Glucose Metabolism via the AKT/GSK3β Signaling Pathway in Alzheimer's Disease Model Mice. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:585476. [PMID: 33328854 PMCID: PMC7714768 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.585476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is mainly manifested as a continuous and progressive decline in cognitive ability. Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are pathological hallmarks of AD and due to accumulated phosphorylated Tau. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β), as a major Tau kinase and a downstream target of the serine protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway, can regulate Tau phosphorylation in AD. Importantly, the AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway is involved in glucose metabolism, and abnormal glucose metabolism is found in the AD brain. Numerous studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA), which is thought to be a potential complementary therapeutic approach for AD, can protect cognitive ability to a certain extent. Objective The purpose of this experiment was to investigate whether the protective and beneficial mechanism of EA on cognition was mediated by the AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway, thereby improving glucose metabolism and Tau phosphorylation in the brain. Methods EA was applied to the Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (GV29) acupoints of 6-month-old amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin-1 (PS1) mice for 20 min, and then quickly prick Shuigou (GV26) acupoint. The intervention was performed once every other day for 28 days. The Morris water maze (MWM) test was performed on C57BL/6N (Non-Tg) mice, APP/PS1 (Tg) mice and EA-treated Tg (Tg + EA) mice to evaluate the effect of EA therapy on cognitive function. 18F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET), immunohistochemistry, and western blotting (WB) were used to investigate the possible mechanism underlying the effect of EA on AD. Results EA treatment significantly improved the cognition of APP/PS1 mice and the glucose uptake rate in the hippocampus. Furthermore, EA inhibited the phosphorylation of Tau (Ser199 and Ser202) proteins by inducing AKT (Ser473) and GSK3β (Ser9) phosphorylation. Conclusion These results demonstrate that EA intervention protects cognition by enhancing glucose metabolism and inhibiting abnormal phosphorylation of Tau protein in the AD model mice, and the AKT/GSK3β pathway might play an irreplaceable role in the regulation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anping Xu
- School of Acupuncture-moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Qingtao Zeng
- Information Engineering Institute, Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, Beijing, China
| | - Yinshan Tang
- Department of Rehabilitation and Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaochen Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Microcirculation, Ministry of Health, Institute of Microcirculation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - You Zhou
- Department of Rehabilitation and Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhigang Li
- School of Acupuncture-moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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11
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Su XT, Wang L, Ma SM, Cao Y, Yang NN, Lin LL, Fisher M, Yang JW, Liu CZ. Mechanisms of Acupuncture in the Regulation of Oxidative Stress in Treating Ischemic Stroke. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2020; 2020:7875396. [PMID: 33178387 PMCID: PMC7644298 DOI: 10.1155/2020/7875396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Ischemic stroke is the major type of cerebrovascular disease usually resulting in death or disability among the aging population globally. Oxidative stress has been closely linked with ischemic stroke. Disequilibrium between excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inherent antioxidant capacity leads to subsequent oxidative damage in the pathological progression of ischemic brain injury. Acupuncture has been applied widely in treating cerebrovascular diseases from time immemorial in China. This review mainly lays stress on the evidence to illuminate the possible mechanisms of acupuncture therapy in treating ischemic stroke through regulating oxidative stress. We found that by regulating a battery of molecular signaling pathways involved in redox modulation, acupuncture not only activates the inherent antioxidant enzyme system but also inhibits the excessive generation of ROS. Acupuncture therapy possesses the potential in alleviating oxidative stress caused by cerebral ischemia, which may be linked with the neuroprotective effect of acupuncture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Tong Su
- Acupuncture Research Center, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Acupuncture Research Center, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Si-Ming Ma
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Cao
- Acupuncture Research Center, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Na-Na Yang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lu-Lu Lin
- Acupuncture Research Center, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Marc Fisher
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jing-Wen Yang
- Acupuncture Research Center, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 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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Electroacupuncture on Trigeminal Nerve-Innervated Acupoints Ameliorates Poststroke Cognitive Impairment in Rats with Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion: Involvement of Neuroprotection and Synaptic Plasticity. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:8818328. [PMID: 32963517 PMCID: PMC7492933 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8818328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a severe sequela of stroke. There are no effective therapeutic options for it. In this study, we evaluated whether electroacupuncture (EA) on the trigeminal nerve-innervated acupoints could alleviate PSCI and identified the mechanisms in an animal model. The male Sprague-Dawley rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was used in our study. EA was conducted on the two scalp acupoints, EX-HN3 (Yintang) and GV20 (Baihui), innervated by the trigeminal nerve, for 14 sessions, daily. Morris water maze and novel object recognition were used to evaluate the animal's cognitive performance. Neuroprotection and synaptic plasticity biomarkers were analyzed in brain tissues. Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury significantly impaired spatial and cognition memory, while EA obviously reversed cognitive deterioration to the control level in the two cognitive paradigms. Moreover, EA reversed the I/R injury-induced decrease of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, tyrosine kinase B, N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor 1, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptor, γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, neuronal nuclei, and postsynaptic density protein 95 expression in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. These results suggest that EA on the trigeminal nerve-innervated acupoints is an effective therapy for PSCI, in association with mediating neuroprotection and synaptic plasticity in related brain regions in the MCAO rat model.
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Effect of Acupuncture on Oxidative Stress Induced by Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. Antioxidants (Basel) 2020; 9:antiox9030248. [PMID: 32204376 PMCID: PMC7139408 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9030248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this article, we review how acupuncture regulates oxidative stress to prevent ischemia–reperfusion injury. We electronically searched databases, including PubMed, Clinical Key and the Cochrane Library, from their inception to November 2019 by using the following medical subject headings and keywords: acupuncture, ischemia-reperfusion injury, oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species, and antioxidants. We concluded that acupuncture is effective in treating oxidation after ischemia-reperfusion injury. In addition to increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and downregulating the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), acupuncture also repairs the DNA, lipids, and proteins attacked by ROS and mediates downstream of the ROS pathway to apoptosis.
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