OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on motor function, expression of extracellular cyclophile A(PPIA) and PPIA/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in spinal cord of amyotrophic la-teral sclerosis (ALS) mice, so as to explore the mechanism of EA intervention in regulating extracellular PPIA on neuroinflammation in ALS mice.
METHODS: Thirty ALS-SOD1G93A mice with hSOD1-G93A gene were randomly divided into model, EA and
Riluzole groups , with 10 mice in each group, and other 10 ALS-SOD1G93A negative mice were used as the blank group. EA was applied to bilateral \"Yanglingquan\"(GB34) and \"Zusanli\"(ST36) for 20 min once daily, 5 days a week for 2 weeks. In the
Riluzole group,
riluzole solution (30 mg·kg-1·d-1) was administrated intragastrically, and the treatment time was the same as that in the EA group.Rotating rod experiment and open field experiment were used to evaluate the changes in motor function of mice .The morphology of motor neurons in the anterior horn of spinal cord was observed by HE staining.The relative protein expression levels of PPIA, TDP-43 and NF-κB in the spinal cord were detected by Western blot.The positive expression level of TDP-43 in the spinal cord was detected by immunohistochemistry. The positive expression level of PPIA in spinal cord was marked by immunofluorescence. Serum PPIA content was determined by ELISA.
RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, the time of rod dropping and the total distance of open field movement in the model group were shortened (P<0.01), the number of motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord was reduced, the cell morphology was incomplete, the cell body was atrophied, the protein expression and positive expression of TDP-43 were increased (P<0.01), the protein expressions of PPIA and NF-κB in the spinal cord were increased(P<0.01), the serum content of PPIA and immunofluorescence expression of PPIA in spinal cord were increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the time of rod dropping and the total distance of open field movement of mice in the EA group and the
Riluzole group were prolonged (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the injury of motor neuron in the anterior horn of the spinal cord was decreased, the protein expression and positive expression of TDP-43 in the spinal cord were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01);the relative expression levels of PPIA and NF-κB proteins were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the content of PPIA in serum and the immunofluorescence expression of PPIA in the spinal cord were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the EA group;the relative protein expression of NF-κB and fluorescence expression of PPIA in spinal cord of mice in the
Riluzole group were decreased (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: EA intervention can improve motor function in ALS mice, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PPIA/NF-κB signaling pathway by EA to alleviating neuroinflammatory response.
目的: 观察电针对肌萎缩侧索硬化症(ALS)小鼠发病期运动功能、脊髓细胞外亲环素A(PPIA)及PPIA/核因子(NF)-κB信号通路相关蛋白表达的影响,探讨电针干预调节细胞外PPIA对ALS小鼠神经炎性的作用机制。方法: 铜锌超氧化物歧化酶1(SOD1)G93A小鼠按随机数字表法分为模型组、电针组、利鲁唑组,同窝SOD1G93A阴性小鼠作为空白组,每组10只。电针组电针双侧“阳陵泉”“足三里”,每次20 min,每日1次,每周治疗5 d,共治疗2周。利鲁唑组小鼠按照30 mg·kg-1·d-1的剂量予利鲁唑灌胃,治疗时间与电针组一致。采用转棒实验和旷场实验评价各组小鼠运动功能的变化;HE染色法观察各组小鼠脊髓前角运动神经元形态;Western blot法检测各组小鼠脊髓组织PPIA、43 kDa Tar DNA结合蛋白(TDP-43)、NF-κB蛋白相对表达量;免疫组织化学法检测各组小鼠脊髓组织TDP-43阳性表达水平;免疫荧光法检测各组小鼠脊髓组织PPIA阳性表达水平;ELISA法检测各组小鼠血清PPIA含量。结果: 与空白组比较,模型组小鼠掉棒潜伏期及旷场运动总距离缩短(P<0.01),脊髓前角运动神经元数量减少,细胞形态不完整,胞体萎缩,TDP-43蛋白表达及阳性表达升高(P<0.01),PPIA、NF-κB蛋白相对表达量升高(P<0.01),血清PPIA含量及脊髓组织PPIA免疫荧光表达升高(P<0.01)。与模型组比较,电针组和利鲁唑组小鼠掉棒潜伏期、旷场运动总距离延长(P<0.05,P<0.01),脊髓前角运动神经元损伤减轻,脊髓组织TDP-43蛋白表达及阳性表达降低(P<0.05,P<0.01);电针组小鼠脊髓组织PPIA、NF-κB蛋白相对表达量降低(P<0.05,P<0.01),血清PPIA含量及脊髓组织PPIA免疫荧光表达降低(P<0.05,P<0.01);利鲁唑组小鼠脊髓组织NF-κB蛋白相对表达量及PPIA免疫荧光表达降低(P<0.05)。结论: 电针干预可改善ALS小鼠运动功能,其机制可能与电针抑制PPIA/NF-κB信号通路进而缓解神经炎性反应有关。.