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Li Y, Fan B, Wang X, Hu N, Zhou X, Zhang Y, Mao P, Li Y. Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation on Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Study Protocol of a Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial. J Pain Res 2025; 18:2663-2677. [PMID: 40438618 PMCID: PMC12118493 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s523538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2025] [Accepted: 05/13/2025] [Indexed: 06/01/2025] Open
Abstract
Background Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and localized tenderness. Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation (TEA) is a non-invasive therapy that combines Traditional Chinese Medicine with electrical stimulation at specific acupoints. Previous studies have shown that TEA is effective in treating pain-related conditions. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and mechanisms of TEA treatment for FMS. Design This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial with two parallel groups, conducted at a single center. Forty participants will be randomly assigned to either the TEA group or the sham-TEA group in a 1:1 ratio. Participants will receive 2 weeks of treatment followed by 2 weeks of follow-up. The primary outcome is the change in VAS pain scores before and after treatment. Secondary outcomes include FMS and pain-related questionnaire scales, infrared thermography (IRT), vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE), blood neurobiological markers, cytokines, and metabolomics. Trial Registration http://itmctr.ccebtcm.org.cn/ identifier ITMCTR2024000638.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanpi Li
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bifa Fan
- Department of Pain Management, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiyun Wang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Naichong Hu
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyi Zhou
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Pain Management, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Peng Mao
- Department of Pain Management, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yifan Li
- Department of Pain Management, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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Ba T, Niu R, Gao J, Li W, Dong M, Duan J, Gong Y, Wu S, Lyu Z, Liu Y, Li N. Microbiota-gut-brain-axis: a new target of acupuncture therapy for post-stroke cognitive impairment. Front Microbiol 2025; 16:1425054. [PMID: 40342596 PMCID: PMC12058749 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1425054] [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: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2025] [Indexed: 05/11/2025] Open
Abstract
Stroke-induced cognitive impairment is a common complication and an important risk factor for disability. Prevention and treatment of secondary stroke injuries are crucial. Modern research has found that the gut microenvironment can directly or indirectly affect neurological function and cerebral ischemic outcomes, and their crosstalk is achieved through the microbiota-gut-brain-axis (MGBA). Acupuncture, as a promising non-drug treatment, has been recommended for improving post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). However, in recent years, few studies have systematically analyzed the potential mechanisms in this field, and whether acupuncture can improve PSCI through the MGBA remains to be explored. This review comprehensively summarizes literature and shows that, acupuncture, as an adjuvant therapy can play a potential important role in the treatment of PSCI by regulating the microbiota-gut-brain-axis. Acupuncture can repair intestinal epithelial barrier, regulate gut microbiota and serum metabolites, alleviate gut inflammation and neuroinflammation, and regulating HPA axis function, etc. From the studies we have included, the evidence for its effectiveness remains limited, these results should be interpreted with caution due to the low quality of evidence. Future high-quality clinical and experimental studies are needed. This review also discussed the development prospects of acupuncture in improving PSCI via the MGBA, such as genomics, personalized therapy, establishment of standards, and combination therapy, etc. providing new research ideas and scientific and reliable evidence for the application of acupuncture in PSCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Te Ba
- Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China
| | - Rui Niu
- Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China
| | - Jianjun Gao
- Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China
| | - Wenfang Li
- Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China
| | - Mengwei Dong
- Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China
| | | | - Yinan Gong
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Sinuo Wu
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhongxi Lyu
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China
| | - Ningcen Li
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
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Yang YJ, Zhou XC, Tian HR, Liang FX. Electroacupuncture relieves type 2 diabetes by regulating gut microbiome. World J Diabetes 2025; 16:103032. [PMID: 40093270 PMCID: PMC11885963 DOI: 10.4239/wjd.v16.i3.103032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2024] [Revised: 12/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2025] [Indexed: 01/21/2025] Open
Abstract
Cumulative studies have shown that the composition of the gut microbiome is strongly associated with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Electroacupuncture (EA) therapy has been reported to alleviate various diseases, including T2DM, by targeting specific acupuncture points and regulating metabolic homeostasis. A recent review published in the World Journal of Diabetes detailed the role of the gut microbiome in T2DM, discussing the role of therapeutic strategies developed to alleviate T2DM and its complications based on gut microbiome in ameliorating T2DM, as well as the effects of multiple diabetes medications on gut microbiome. However, the review did not elucidate the therapeutic role of EA therapy, a common non-pharmacological intervention for T2DM. This letter complemented the effect of EA therapy on glucose metabolism by adjusting the gut microbiome composition, which reveals the underlying mechanism of glucose lowering by EA therapy and provides a scientific basis for the application of EA therapy in clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Jing Yang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xu-Chang Zhou
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, Fujian Province, China
| | - Hao-Ran Tian
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, Hubei Province, China
| | - Feng-Xia Liang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, Hubei Province, China
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Ju C, Liu R, Ma Y, Dong H, Xu R, Hu H, Hao D. Targeted microbiota dysbiosis repair: An important approach to health management after spinal cord injury. Ageing Res Rev 2025; 104:102648. [PMID: 39725357 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102648] [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: 11/23/2024] [Revised: 12/18/2024] [Accepted: 12/21/2024] [Indexed: 12/28/2024]
Abstract
Current research primarily focuses on the pathological mechanisms of spinal cord injury (SCI), seeking to promote spinal cord repair and restore motorial and sensory functions by elucidating mechanisms of cell death or axonal regeneration. However, SCI is almost irreversible, and patients often struggle to regain mobility or self-care abilities after injuries. Consequently, there has been significant interest in modulating systemic symptoms following SCI to improve patients' quality of life. Neuron axonal disconnection and substantial apoptotic events following SCI result in signal transmission loss, profoundly impacting various organ and systems, including the gastrointestinal tract. Dysbiosis can lead to severe bowel dysfunction in patients, substantially lowering their quality of life and significantly reducing life expectancy of them. Therefore, researches focusing on the restoration of the gut microbiota hold promise for potential therapeutic strategies aimed at rehabilitation after SCI. In this paper, we explore the regulatory roles that dietary fiber, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), probiotics, and microbiota transplantation play in patients with SCI, summarize the potential mechanisms of post-SCI dysbiosis, and discuss possible strategies to enhance long-term survival of SCI patients. We aim to provide potential insights for future research aimed at ameliorating dysbiosis in SCI patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Ju
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Youyidong Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China.
| | - Renfeng Liu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Youyidong Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China.
| | - Yanming Ma
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Youyidong Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China.
| | - Hui Dong
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Youyidong Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China.
| | - Ruiqing Xu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Youyidong Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China.
| | - Huimin Hu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Youyidong Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China.
| | - Dingjun Hao
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Youyidong Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China.
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Ji Z, Niu H, He A, Li K, Jia J, Zhang M, Liu G. Research Hotspots and Trends in Acupuncture for Cancer:A bibliometric analysis from 2004 to 2024. J Multidiscip Healthc 2025; 18:531-547. [PMID: 39911755 PMCID: PMC11794041 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s494138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2025] [Indexed: 02/07/2025] Open
Abstract
Background Acupuncture is increasingly recognized as a promising intervention modality in cancer treatment. Nevertheless, there has been a paucity of systematic analysis and visualisation of relevant publications through bibliometric methods. This paper conducts a bibliometric analysis of research on acupuncture within the realm of oncological applications, aiming to explore its prospects and emerging trends. Methods In this study, we analyzed 2117 documents obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) to examine the correlations among authors, journals, institutions, countries, and keywords. This analysis was conducted using the Bibliometric R package, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer software. Results The evolution of acupuncture can be broadly divided into three time periods: 2004-2008, 2009-2017 and 2018-2024. The WOSCC retrieved 2117 publications on acupuncture for cancer over the past 20 years. Among the top 10 institutions, seven were from the United States, two from China, and one from Korea. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center had the highest number of publications. At the same time, the journal INTEGRATIVE CANCER THERAPIES published the most articles in this field. Keyword co-occurrence analysis revealed four distinct clusters: "Alternative and Complementary Medicine for Cancer", "Acupuncture for cancer-related fatigue and pain", "Acupressure for anxiety, depression, and insomnia", "Improving quality of life for breast cancer patients". The most recent keyword outbreaks included "sleep", "radiation induced xerostomia", "recovery", "insomnia", and "induced peripheral neuropathy." Breast cancer is the type of cancer for which acupuncture is most commonly used. Conclusion The future research focus will be on acupuncture as a treatment for sleep disorders, the alleviation of radiotherapy complications and the improvement of postoperative quality of life. Research on acupuncture in the field of breast cancer is more extensive compared to other cancers. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen research on acupuncture in different cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Ji
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Heyuan Niu
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Anqi He
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kaiyu Li
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jinyan Jia
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Maorun Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Gang Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
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Xie Y, Fang Y, Liu Y, Ji B, Sakurai R, Wang Y, Li H, Zhang L, Wu L, Guo T, Quan Y, Rehan VK. Electroacupuncture may protect pulmonary dysplasia in offspring with perinatal nicotine exposure by altering maternal gut microbiota and metabolites. Front Microbiol 2025; 15:1465673. [PMID: 39850138 PMCID: PMC11754296 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1465673] [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: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 12/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2025] Open
Abstract
Background Perinatal nicotine exposure (PNE) induces pulmonary dysplasia in offspring and it increases the risk of respiratory diseases both in offspring and across generations. The maternal gut microbiota and its metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), can regulate fetal lung development and are susceptible to nicotine exposure. Therefore, modulation of PNE-induced changes in maternal gut microbiota and SCFAs may prevent the occurrence of pulmonary dysplasia in offspring. Objective Our previous studies demonstrated that electroacupuncture (EA) ameliorated PNE-induced impairment in offspring lung development. To further our study, we aimed to determine whether the protective effect of EA is associated with the modulation of changes in maternal gut microbiota and SCFAs. Methods We observed changes in maternal gut microbiota and serum SCFA levels in both mother and offspring after EA treatment using a PNE rat model. Furthermore, using broad-spectrum antibiotics, we established a pseudo-germ-free PNE rat model to explore whether EA can protect offspring's pulmonary function and lung morphology in the presence of depleted maternal gut microbiota. Results Our study revealed that EA increased the community richness (Sobs index) of perinatal nicotine-exposed maternal gut microbiota and the abundance of beneficial bacteria (RF39, Clostridia, Oscillospirales, etc.). This was accompanied by an upregulated serum levels of acetate, butyrate, and total SCFAs in both mother and offspring rats, as well as stimulated expression of SCFA receptors (GPR41 and GPR43) in the lung tissue of offspring rats. However, the beneficial effects of EA on offspring pulmonary function (FVC, PEF, PIF, and Cdyn) and lung morphology (alveolar number and MLI) were lost after maternal gut microbiota depletion. Conclusion These findings suggest that EA may exert its therapeutic effects on PNE-induced lung phenotype by altering maternal gut microbiota. The likely mechanism involves the associated improvement in serum SCFA levels in both mother and offspring, as well as the upregulation of SCFA receptors in the lung tissue of offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yana Xie
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Fang
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yitian Liu
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Ji
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Reiko Sakurai
- Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Yifei Wang
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Hewen Li
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Le Wu
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Tingting Guo
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Ye Quan
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Virender K. Rehan
- Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Li M, Wang Q, Niu M, Yang H, Zhao S. Protective effects of insoluble dietary fiber from cereal bran against DSS-induced chronic colitis in mice: From inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, intestinal barrier, and gut microbiota. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 283:137846. [PMID: 39566792 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.137846] [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: 07/11/2024] [Revised: 11/07/2024] [Accepted: 11/17/2024] [Indexed: 11/22/2024]
Abstract
Insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) is a crucial component of cereals, and IDF from cereal bran (IDF-CB) has been reported to have multiple biological activities. However, the effect of IDF-CB on chronic colitis remains underexplored. The study aimed to investigate the impact of IDFs from wheat bran (WBIDF), rice bran (RBIDF), millet bran (MBIDF) and oat bran (OBIDF) on chronic colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Our findings demonstrated that IDFs-CB supplementation mitigated DSS-induced weight loss and reduced lesions in the colon and spleen. Levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) and oxidative stress markers (MPO, iNOS and MDA)were decreased, and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) and T-SOD activity were increased after IDF-CB inclusion. Furthermore, IDFs-CB restored intestinal barrier function by regulating gene expression (up-regulated Muc-2, ZO-1 and Occludin, and down-regulated Claudin-1 and Claudin-4). Additionally, we analyzed the gut microbiota and SCFAs composition. WBIDF, MBIDF and OBIDF inhibited the growth of Muribaculaceae_unclassified, Bacteroides and Parasutterella. Conversely, IDFs-CB promoted the growth of Candidatus_Saccharimonas and norank_f__norank_o__Clostridia_UCG-014. Notably, WBIDF enhanced the abundance of Allobaculum, while MBIDF and OBIDF increased the abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136. Moreover, supplementation with IDFs-CB significantly elevated certain SCFA concentrations-particularly acetic acid and isohexanoic acid. Our results suggested that IDF-CB effectively alleviated DSS-induced chronic colitis; among them，WBIDF exhibited superior efficacy followed by OBIDF，MBIDF，and RBIDF. This study provides a theoretical foundation for dietary recommendations for patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Li
- College of Food Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qingshan Wang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Meng Niu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China; Guangxi Yangxiang Co., Ltd., Guigang 537100, China.
| | - Hong Yang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Siming Zhao
- College of Food Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
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Chen Q, Chen T, Xiao H, Wang F, Li C, Hu N, Bao L, Tong X, Feng Y, Xu Y, Li C, Zhu JW, Wang D, Li MX. APEX1 in intestinal epithelium triggers neutrophil infiltration and intestinal barrier damage in ulcerative colitis. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 225:359-373. [PMID: 39389211 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.10.260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 09/30/2024] [Accepted: 10/03/2024] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
Ulcerative colitis (UC) can lead to the generation of large amounts of reactive oxygen species and DNA damage. DNA repair caused by base excision repair (BER) enzymes is an important mechanism for maintaining genomic integrity. However, the specific relationship between the function of BER enzymes and UC remains unclear. To address this, we conducted a study on non-cancerous colon tissue from patients with UC, focusing on the role of apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APEX1) in BER to explore its significance in the progression of UC. Our research found that the expression of APEX1 in epithelium cells was significantly correlated to the severity of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and the infiltration and function of neutrophils in human UC and mouse models, particularly in relation to neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and the degranulation processes. APEX1 deficiency resulted in decreased production of the chemokines CXCL1 by the NF-κB pathway in epithelium cells, leading to reduced accumulation and activation of neutrophils associated with colitis in colon tissue, as well as decreased levels of IL-1β. Furthermore, APEX1 deficiency reduced symptoms of colitis by decreasing epithelial cell apoptosis and altering the gut microbiome. Studies related to the redox activity of APEX1 have shown that the combination of the redox inhibitor E3330 with 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) can effectively alleviate colitis, indicating that APEX1 has promising prospects for clinical treatment of IBD. APEX1 is required for interactions between neutrophil and intestinal epithelial cells. This study provided a mechanism demonstrating that APEX1 protein triggered the risk of UC by promoting neutrophil infiltration and compromising intestinal epithelial barrier function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Chen
- Cancer Center of Daping Hospital Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China.
| | - TianYi Chen
- Cancer Center of Daping Hospital Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - He Xiao
- Cancer Center of Daping Hospital Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Fangjie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Army Medical Center (Daping Hospital), Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - ChaoFan Li
- Cancer Center of Daping Hospital Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Nana Hu
- Cancer Center of Daping Hospital Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China; Yu-Yue Pathology Scientific Research Center, Choongqing, China
| | - Lingbo Bao
- Cancer Center of Daping Hospital Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Xueling Tong
- Cancer Center of Daping Hospital Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Yan Feng
- Cancer Center of Daping Hospital Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Yu Xu
- Cancer Center of Daping Hospital Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - ChunXue Li
- Department of General Surgery, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Jian Wu Zhu
- Cancer Center of Daping Hospital Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Cancer Center of Daping Hospital Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China.
| | - Meng Xia Li
- Cancer Center of Daping Hospital Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China.
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Bae SJ, Jang Y, Kim Y, Park JH, Jang JH, Oh JY, Jang SY, Ahn S, Park HJ. Gut Microbiota Regulation by Acupuncture and Moxibustion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2024; 52:1245-1273. [PMID: 39192678 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x24500502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
There have been numerous studies investigating the impact of acupuncture and/or moxibustion on the gut microbiota, but the results have been inconclusive. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis that included both preclinical and clinical studies to assess the current evidence regarding the effects of acupuncture on gut microbiota changes. We collected relevant studies from EMBASE and PubMed, collected outcomes including diversity and relative abundance measures of the gut microbiome, and the summarized effect estimates were calculated using the ratio of means (ROM) with 95% confidence intervals. Our analysis identified three clinical studies and 20 preclinical studies, encompassing various diseases and models, including colitis and obesity. The pooled results indicated no significant difference in alpha diversity changes between treatment groups and controls, except for the Simpson index measure, which was significantly higher in the treatment groups. Additionally, the pooled results showed an increase in the Firmicutes and a decrease in the Bacteroidetes in the treatment groups, along with increases in the Lactobacillus and Ruminococcus genera. These findings suggest acupuncture treatment can target the modification of specific phyla and genera of gut microbiota. However, it is important to note that the effects of acupuncture on the gut microbiome are heterogeneous across studies, particularly in different disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun-Jeong Bae
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center (AMSRC), Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yumi Jang
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center (AMSRC), Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
- College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Yejin Kim
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center (AMSRC), Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
- College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Han Park
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center (AMSRC), Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
- College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Hwan Jang
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, 128 Beobwon-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05854, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Young Oh
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center (AMSRC), Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
- Department of Korean Medical Science, Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Young Jang
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center (AMSRC), Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
- Department of Korean Medical Science, Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Sora Ahn
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center (AMSRC), Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Hi-Joon Park
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center (AMSRC), Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
- Department of Korean Medical Science, Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
- Department of KHU-KIST Convergence Science & Technology, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 5 Hwarang-ro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 027932, Republic of Korea
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10
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Yu C, Mao X, Zhou C. Influence of acupuncture and moxibustion on gastrointestinal function and adverse events in gastric cancer patients after surgery and chemotherapy: a meta-analysis. Support Care Cancer 2024; 32:524. [PMID: 39023776 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08740-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The impact of acupuncture and moxibustion on postoperative complications and adverse events (AEs) of chemotherapy in patients with gastric cancer (GC) has been investigated. Through a meta-analysis of existing randomized controlled trials (RCTs), this study sought to strengthen the evidentiary basis to help investigators further understand the effects of moxibustion and acupuncture on postoperative complications and AEs of chemotherapy among GC patients. METHODS Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, and VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals were searched to collect RCTs on effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on gastrointestinal function and AEs among GC patients undergoing surgery and chemotherapy. Outcome measures included postoperative gastrointestinal recovery (bowel sound recovery time, time to first flatus/defecation/feeding), the incidence of AEs (nausea and vomiting, abdominal distension, and diarrhea), myelosuppression (white blood cells, hemoglobin, and platelet), and immune function indicators (CD3+ and CD4+). To assess quality, the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was utilized. Review Manager 5.4 was implemented to do the meta-analysis. RESULTS Fifteen eligible RCTs involved 1259 patients. Meta-analysis results showed that the experimental group had a significantly shorter bowel sound recovery time (MD = - 14.57, 95% CI = [- 18.97, - 10.18], P < 0.00001), time to first flatus (MD = - 17.56, 95% CI = [- 22.23, - 12.88], P < 0.00001), time to first defecation (MD = - 17.05, 95% CI = [- 21.02, - 13.09], P < 0.00001), and time to first feeding (MD = - 23.49, 95% CI = [- 28.81, - 18.17], P < 0.00001) than the control group. There were significant decreases in the incidence of nausea and vomiting (RR = 0.46, 95% CI = [0.21, 1.02], P = 0.05) and abdominal distension (RR = 0.45, 95% CI = [0.27, 0.75], P = 0.002) observed in the experimental group in comparison with the control group. The experimental group demonstrated a significant increase in white blood cell counts in comparison with to the control group (MD = 0.89, 95% CI = [0.23, 1.55], P = 0.008). The experimental group showed significantly higher levels of CD3+ (MD = 7.30, 95% CI = [1.86, 12.74], P = 0.009) and CD4+ (MD = 2.75, 95% CI = [1.61, 3.90], P < 0.00001) than the control group. CONCLUSION Among GC patients, acupuncture and moxibustion can aid in gastrointestinal function recovery, reduce the incidence of AEs of surgery and chemotherapy, and improve immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Yu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Quzhou People's Hospital (Quzhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University), Zhejiang Province, Quzhou City, 324000, China
| | - Xinglong Mao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Quzhou People's Hospital (Quzhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University), Zhejiang Province, Quzhou City, 324000, China
| | - Chun Zhou
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Quzhou People's Hospital (Quzhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University), Zhejiang Province, Quzhou City, 324000, China.
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11
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Xu H, Luo Y, Li Q, Zhu H. Acupuncture influences multiple diseases by regulating gut microbiota. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1371543. [PMID: 39040602 PMCID: PMC11260648 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1371543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Acupuncture, an important green and side effect-free therapy in traditional Chinese medicine, is widely use both domestically and internationally. Acupuncture can interact with the gut microbiota and influence various diseases, including metabolic diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, mental disorders, nervous system diseases, and other diseases. This review presents a thorough analysis of these interactions and their impacts and examines the alterations in the gut microbiota and the potential clinical outcomes following acupuncture intervention to establish a basis for the future utilization of acupuncture in clinical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Xu
- Department of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yingzhe Luo
- Department of Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qiaoqi Li
- Department of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hong Zhu
- Department of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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12
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Wei JQ, Bai J, Zhou CH, Yu H, Zhang W, Xue F, He H. Electroacupuncture intervention alleviates depressive-like behaviors and regulates gut microbiome in a mouse model of depression. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30014. [PMID: 38699009 PMCID: PMC11064442 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30014] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Electroacupuncture (EA) is a neuroregulatory therapy for depression. Nonetheless, the effects of EA on the gut microbiome in mice models of depression are not well established. Here, using a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model in mice, we evaluated the antidepressant effects of EA and changes in gut microbiota with behavioral tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results found that EA increased the time spent in the center area of the open-field test and the percentage of sucrose preference and reduced the immobility time in the tail suspension test in CUMS-treated mice. Furthermore, the genus Lachnoclostridium, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-002 and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group were enriched in the CUMS group, which was positively correlated with depressive-like behaviors. Whereas phylum Actinobacteria and genus Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, Dubosiella, Rikenella and Ileibacterium were enriched in the EA and CUMS + EA groups, all of which were negatively correlated with depressive-like behaviors. This study characterizes gut microbiota under EA treatment and provides new insights into the association of anti-depressive-like effects of EA and gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-quan Wei
- Department of Psychiatry, Xi'an Gaoxin Hospital, Xi'an, 710077, China
| | - Jie Bai
- Department of Psychiatry, Xi'an Gaoxin Hospital, Xi'an, 710077, China
| | - Cui-hong Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, Xijing Hospital, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Huan Yu
- Department of Psychiatry, Xijing Hospital, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Xi'an Gaoxin Hospital, Xi'an, 710077, China
| | - Fen Xue
- Department of Psychiatry, Xi'an Gaoxin Hospital, Xi'an, 710077, China
| | - Hong He
- Department of Psychiatry, Xi'an Gaoxin Hospital, Xi'an, 710077, China
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Yan L, Li H, Qian Y, Liu Q, Cong S, Dou B, Wang Y, Wang M, Yu T. Acupuncture modulates the gut microbiota in Alzheimer's disease: current evidence, challenges, and future opportunities. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1334735. [PMID: 38495110 PMCID: PMC10940355 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1334735] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease, one of the most severe and common neurodegenerative diseases, has no effective cure. Therefore it is crucial to explore novel and effective therapeutic targets. The gut microbiota - brain axis has been found to play a role in Alzheimer's disease by regulating the neuro-immune and endocrine systems. At the same time, acupuncture can modulate the gut microbiota and may impact the course of Alzheimer's disease. In this Review, we discuss recent studies on the role of acupuncture on the gut microbiota as well current challenges and future opportunities of acupuncture as potential treatment for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Yan
- The First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Hong Li
- The First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Yulin Qian
- The First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Qidi Liu
- The First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Shan Cong
- The First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Baomin Dou
- National Clinical Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Yu Wang
- The First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Meng Wang
- The First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Tao Yu
- The First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
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14
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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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15
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Hu XM, Song LZX, Zhang ZZ, Ruan X, Li HC, Yu Z, Huang L. Electroacupuncture at ST25 corrected gut microbial dysbiosis and SNpc lipid peroxidation in Parkinson's disease rats. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1358525. [PMID: 38450172 PMCID: PMC10915097 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1358525] [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: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Parkinson's disease (PD) remains one kind of a complex, progressive neurodegenerative disease. Levodopa and dopamine agonists as widely utilized PD therapeutics have not shown significant positive long-term outcomes. Emerging evidences indicate that electroacupuncture (EA) have potential effects on the therapy of nervous system disorders, particularly PD, but its specific underlying mechanism(s) remains poorly understood, leading to the great challenge of clinical application and management. Previous study has shown that acupuncture ameliorates PD motor symptoms and dopaminergic neuron damage by modulating intestinal dysbiosis, but its intermediate pathway has not been sufficiently investigated. Methods A rat model of PD was induced using rotenone. The therapeutic effect of EA on PD was assessed using the pole and rotarod tests and immunohistostaining for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the substantia nigra (SN) of brain. The role of gut microbiota was explored using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabonomic analysis. PICRUSt2 analysis, lipidomic analysis, LPS and inflammatory factor assays were used for subsequent exploration and validation. Correlation analysis was used to identify the key bacteria that EA regulates lipid metabolism to improve PD. Results The present study firstly reappeared the effects of EA on protecting motor function and dopaminergic neurons and modulation of gut microbial dysbiosis in rotenone-induced PD rat model. EA improved motor dysfunction (via the pole and rotarod tests) and protected TH+ neurons in PD rats. EA increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Dubosiella and Bifidobacterium and decreased the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella and Morganella belonging to Pseudomonadota, suggesting that the modulation of gut microbiota by EA improving the symptoms of PD motility via alleviating LPS-induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress, which was also validated by various aspects such as microbial gene functional analysis, fecal metabolomics analysis, LPS and inflammatory factor assays and SNpc lipidomics analysis. Moreover, correlation analyses also verified strong correlations of Escherichia-Shigella and Morganella with motor symptoms and SNpc lipid peroxidation, explicating targets and intermediate pathways through which EA improve PD exercise symptom. Conclusion Our results indicate that the improvement of motor function in PD model by EA may be mediated in part by restoring the gut microbiota, which intermediate processes involve circulating endotoxins and inflammatory mediators, SNpc oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. The gut-microbiome - brain axis may be a potential mechanism of EA treatment for the PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan-ming Hu
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li-zhe-xiong Song
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine Research of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Tuina of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhi-zi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine Research of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Tuina of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xi Ruan
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hai-chang Li
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhi Yu
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine Research of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Lin Huang
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
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16
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Wang Y, Wang L, Ni X, Jiang M, Zhao L. Effect of acupuncture therapy for postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in gastric and colorectal cancers: an umbrella review. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1291524. [PMID: 38375156 PMCID: PMC10876295 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1291524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Gastrointestinal dysfunction is a prevalent postoperative complication in patients undergoing surgery for gastric cancer and colorectal cancer. Acupuncture holds promise as a great potential therapeutic intervention. The efficacy of acupuncture therapy for postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction has been assessed in some studies, however, the variability in results and study quality influences practical clinical application. Therefore, it is necessary to summarize and analyze the published clinical research data in this field. Objective This study aimed to synthesize evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses in order to assess the efficacy of acupuncture therapy for postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer. Design Umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Methods We searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform (Wanfang), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), Chinese biomedical literature service system (SinoMed), PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for all systematic review/meta-analysis of acupuncture for postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in gastric and colorectal cancers. From the establishment of the database to July 8, 2023. Two independent reviewers conducted literature extraction and evaluation. The quality of included studies was assessed using The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis statements 2020 (PRISMA2020), the quality of the methods was assessed using a measuring tool to assess systematic reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2), and the level of evidence was assessed using the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE). The statistical analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4, and the effect size was expressed as Odds Ratio (OR), Mean Difference (MD), and 95% confidence interval (CI) based on the extracted data type (test level α= 0.05). The heterogeneity was assessed using the I 2 statistic and Q-test (χ2). The outcome indicators such as time to first defecation and time to first flatus were utilized as endpoints to assess the efficacy of different acupuncture therapies. Results A total of six systematic reviews/meta-analyses were included in this study, involving 12 different acupuncture therapies. PRISMA 2020 indicated that the studies all scored between 13-20.5. There were deficiencies in protocol and registration, assessment of the quality of evidence for outcome indicators, risk of bias, and declaration of conflict of interest. The AMSTAR 2 evaluations showed that five studies were very low quality and one was low quality. The level of evidence for various acupuncture interventions varied from very low to moderate.For patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction after gastric cancer surgery, ear acupressure [MD=-11.92, 95% (-14.39,-9.44), P<0.00001], moxibustion [MD=-19.16, 95% (-23.00,-16.22), P<0.00001], warm needling [MD=-12.81, 95% (-17.61,-8.01), P<0.00001], acupoint application [MD=-6.40, 95% (-10.26,-2.54), P=0.001], manual acupuncture [MD=-18.32, 95% (-26.31,-10.39), P<0.00001] and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) [MD=-5.17, 95% (-9.59,-0.74), P=0.02] could promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function after surgery.For postoperative colorectal cancer patients, electroacupuncture [MD=-15.17, 95% (-28.81,-1.54), P<0.05], manual acupuncture [MD=-20.51, 95% (-39.19,-1.84), P<0.05], warm needling [MD=-18.55, 95% (-23.86,-13.24), P<0.05], ear acupressure [MD=-5.38, 95% (-9.80,-0.97), P<0.05], acupoint application [MD=-26.30, 95% (-32.81,-19.79), P<0.05], ear acupressure+acupressure [MD=-9.67, 95% (-13.58,-5.76), P<0.05], ear acupressure+manual acupuncture [MD=-18.70, 95% (-21.01,-16.39), P<0.05], ear acupressure+moxibustion [MD=-22.90, 95% (-30.10,-15.70), P<0.05], moxibustion+acupressure [MD=-14.77, 95% (-20.59,-8.95), P<0.05] improved postoperative gastrointestinal function. In addition, the efficacy of acupressure [MD=-12.00, 95% (-31.60,7.60), P>0.05] needed to be further demonstrated. Conclusion Acupuncture therapy has a positive therapeutic impact on postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in gastric and colorectal cancers, but this finding should still be taken with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Wang
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Linjia Wang
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xixiu Ni
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Minjiao Jiang
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion College, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Acupuncture Clinical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture for Senile Disease (Chengdu University of TCM), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
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17
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Zhao H, Sun M, Zhang Y, Kong W, Fan L, Wang K, Xu Q, Chen B, Dong J, Shi Y, Wang Z, Wang S, Zhuang X, Li Q, Lin F, Yao X, Zhang W, Kong C, Zhang R, Feng D, Zhao X. Connecting the Dots: The Cerebral Lymphatic System as a Bridge Between the Central Nervous System and Peripheral System in Health and Disease. Aging Dis 2024; 15:115-152. [PMID: 37307828 PMCID: PMC10796102 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.0516] [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: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
As a recently discovered waste removal system in the brain, cerebral lymphatic system is thought to play an important role in regulating the homeostasis of the central nervous system. Currently, more and more attention is being focused on the cerebral lymphatic system. Further understanding of the structural and functional characteristics of cerebral lymphatic system is essential to better understand the pathogenesis of diseases and to explore therapeutic approaches. In this review, we summarize the structural components and functional characteristics of cerebral lymphatic system. More importantly, it is closely associated with peripheral system diseases in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and kidney. However, there is still a gap in the study of the cerebral lymphatic system. However, we believe that it is a critical mediator of the interactions between the central nervous system and the peripheral system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxiang Zhao
- Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Meiyan Sun
- Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Yue Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Wenwen Kong
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Lulu Fan
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Kaifang Wang
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Qing Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Baiyan Chen
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Jianxin Dong
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Yanan Shi
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Zhengyan Wang
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - ShiQi Wang
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Xiaoli Zhuang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Feihong Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xinyu Yao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
| | - WenBo Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Chang Kong
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Dayun Feng
- Department of neurosurgery, Tangdu hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Xiaoyong Zhao
- Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
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Miyashita A, Xia Y, Kuda T, Yamamoto M, Nakamura A, Takahashi H. Effects of Sichuan pepper (huājiāo) powder on disease activity and caecal microbiota of dextran sodium sulphate-induced inflammatory bowel disease mouse model. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:126. [PMID: 38236446 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-09103-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sichuan pepper [Zanthoxylum bungeanum; huājiāo (HJ)] is a widely used spice in China and has better antioxidative, anti-glycation, and bile acid-lowering properties than cumin and coriander seeds. HJ affects inflammation-related cytokines and caecal microbiota in mice fed a low-fibre and high-sucrose diet. METHODS AND RESULTS To determine the ameliorative effect of HJ on inflammatory bowel disease, C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups and fed distilled water (control) or 3% (w/v) dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) in drinking water with normal chow containing 0% or 5% (w/w) HJ powder for seven days. After 6 days of feeding, diarrhoea, decreased body weight, and blood in faeces were observed in the DSS group. DSS treatment increased the spleen weight and damaged the colon tissue. These inflammatory indices were inhibited by HJ treatment. Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rDNA (V4) gene of the caecal content revealed a decrease in the alpha diversity (Simpson index D) in the DSS treatment group compared to the control group. The abundance of caecal Desulfovibrio, an inflammation-related genus, was higher and the caecal Lachnospiraceae and Bacteroides levels were lower in the DSS-treated mice than those in the control mice. However, HJ suppressed the DSS-induced changes in the caecal microbiota. CONCLUSION HJ intake contributes to the reduction in inflammation and maintenance of the gut microbiota. However, the strong antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds and fermentability of water-soluble dietary fibres in HJ and their relationship with other functional properties warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayumi Miyashita
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan
| | - Yumeng Xia
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan
| | - Takashi Kuda
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan.
| | - Mahiro Yamamoto
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan
| | - Ayaka Nakamura
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan
| | - Hajime Takahashi
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan
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Wang C, Sun D, Deng Q, Sun L, Hu L, Fang Z, Zhao J, Gooneratne R. Elephantopus scaber L. Polysaccharides Alleviate Heat Stress-Induced Systemic Inflammation in Mice via Modulation of Characteristic Gut Microbiota and Metabolites. Nutrients 2024; 16:262. [PMID: 38257155 PMCID: PMC10819175 DOI: 10.3390/nu16020262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Elephantopus scaber L. (ESL) is a Chinese herb that is used both as a food and medicine, often being added to soups in summer in south China to relieve heat stress (HS), but its exact mechanism of action is unknown. In this study, heat-stressed mice were gavaged with ESL polysaccharides (ESLP) at 0, 150, 300, and 450 mg/kg/d-1 (n = 5) for seven days. The gut microbiota composition, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), seven neurotransmitters in faeces, expression of intestinal epithelial tight junction (TJ) proteins (Claudin-1, Occludin), and serum inflammatory cytokines were measured. The low dose of ESLP (ESLL) improved the adverse physiological conditions; significantly reduced the cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels (p < 0.05); upregulated the expression of Claudin-1; restored the gut microbiota composition including Achromobacter and Oscillospira, which were at similar levels to those in the normal control group; significantly increased beneficial SCFAs like butyric acid and 5-HT levels in the faeces of heat-stressed mice; and significantly decreased the valeric acid and glutamic acid level. The level of inflammatory markers significantly correlated with the above-mentioned indicators (p < 0.05). Thus, ESLL reduced the HS-induced systemic inflammation by optimizing gut microbiota (Achromobacter, Oscillospira) abundance, increasing gut beneficial SCFAs like butyric acid and 5-HT levels, and reducing gut valeric and glutamic acid levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (C.W.); (D.S.); (L.S.); (L.H.); (Z.F.)
| | - Dongfang Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (C.W.); (D.S.); (L.S.); (L.H.); (Z.F.)
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Qi Deng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (C.W.); (D.S.); (L.S.); (L.H.); (Z.F.)
| | - Lijun Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (C.W.); (D.S.); (L.S.); (L.H.); (Z.F.)
| | - Lianhua Hu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (C.W.); (D.S.); (L.S.); (L.H.); (Z.F.)
| | - Zhijia Fang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (C.W.); (D.S.); (L.S.); (L.H.); (Z.F.)
| | - Jian Zhao
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia;
| | - Ravi Gooneratne
- Department of Wine, Food and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, P.O. Box 85084, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand;
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Shi J, Zhang X, Chen J, Shen R, Cui H, Wu H. Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy for cognitive impairment: the microbiome-gut-brain axis and its role. Front Neurosci 2024; 17:1275860. [PMID: 38274501 PMCID: PMC10808604 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1275860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment poses a significant burden on individuals, families, and society worldwide. Despite the lack of effective treatment strategies, emerging evidence suggests that the microbiome-gut-brain (MGB) axis may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment. While targeted treatment is not yet comprehensive, recently, acupuncture and moxibustion therapy has participated increasingly in the treatment of degenerative diseases and has achieved a certain therapeutic effect. In this review, the possible mechanisms by which acupuncture and moxibustion therapy may improve cognitive impairment through the MGB axis are reviewed, including regulating gut microbial homeostasis, improving intestinal inflammation mediated by the neuroendocrine-immune system, and enhancing intestinal barrier function. We also discuss common acupoints and corresponding mechanism analysis to provide insights into further exploration of mechanisms that target the MGB axis and thereby intervene in cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiatian Shi
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyue Zhang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianhua Chen
- Department of Mental Health, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruishi Shen
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huashun Cui
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huangan Wu
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Yueyang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Xu LL, Xiang NJ, Cheng TC, Li YX, Chen P, Jiang ZW, Liu XX. Application of electroacupuncture in the prevention of low anterior resection syndrome after rectal cancer surgery. World J Gastrointest Surg 2023; 15:2765-2773. [PMID: 38221997 PMCID: PMC10784840 DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v15.i12.2765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) is one of the common postoperative complications in patients with rectal cancer, which seriously affects their postoperative recovery and quality of life (QoL). Electroacupuncture therapy is one of the characteristic therapies of traditional Chinese medicine. There are few reports on the prevention and treatment of LARS by electroacupuncture therapy. AIM To explore the clinical effectiveness of electroacupuncture in managing rectal cancer patients with postoperative LARS. METHODS A total of 50 patients with LARS after rectal cancer surgery were retrospectively selected as the research subjects. According to the treatment methods, they were divided into an observation group (n = 25) and a control group (n = 25). During the four-week treatment period, the control group received standard defecation function training, while the observation group received electroacupuncture care and traditional defecation function training. The anal pressure index (which includes anal resting pressure, anal systolic pressure, and maximum tolerable volume), European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QoL C30 (QLQ-C30) score, LARS Scale (LARSS) score, Wexner anal incontinence scale score, Xu Zhongfa five-item 10-point scale score, and the occurrence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. RESULTS The experimental group showed considerably enhanced LARSS scores compared to those in the control group after four weeks of treatment. In the first week, second week, and fourth week, the LARSS score and Wexner anal incontinence scale score decreased, and the Xu Zhong method five-item 10-point scale score increased, with significant differences (P < 0.05). The experimental group showed substantial improvements in anal resting pressure, anal systolic pressure, and maximum tolerance volume after undergoing 4 wk of therapy in the untreated group (P < 0.05). The experimental group's QLQ-C30 score on the EORTC QoL questionnaire was higher than that of the control group during the 1st, 2nd, and 4th wk (P < 0.05). No significant variation between the groups in the frequency of adverse reactions (P > 0.05) was observed. CONCLUSION Electroacupuncture positively impacted LARS following rectal cancer surgery, effectively improving clinical symptoms and anal pressure indicators and patients' standard of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu-Lu Xu
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Neng-Jun Xiang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Tian-Cheng Cheng
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yi-Xian Li
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Peng Chen
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhi-Wei Jiang
- Department of General Surger, Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xin-Xin Liu
- Department of General Surger, Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
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22
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Zhu B, Zhou Y, Zhou W, Chen C, Wang J, Xu S, Wang Q. Electroacupuncture modulates gut microbiota in mice: A potential target in postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2023; 306:3131-3143. [PMID: 36094150 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The detailed mechanism of inflammation in postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is unclear. This study aimed to determine whether electroacupuncture (EA) ameliorates POCD by modulating gut microbial dysbiosis. Compared to the control group, mice in the EA group were treated at the acupoints Zusanli (ST36), Quchi (L111), Baihui (GV20), and Dazhui (GV14) 1 week before appendectomy. Novel object recognition and the Morris water maze tests were used to assess learning and spatial reference memory deficits, whereas hippocampus samples and stool samples were collected for central inflammatory tests and 16S-rRNA sequencing of intestinal flora, respectively. In amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) mice, EA enhanced spatial memory and learning deficits. The fecal microbial community was altered in APP/PS1 mice in the absence of EA following surgery. Among them, Coprococcus and Bacteroidetes were more abundant in the EA groups than in the control groups; however, Actinobacteriota, Helicobacteraceae, and Escherichia/shigella constitute the minor bacterial colonization in the EA groups. Furthermore, we found a significant negative correlation between Firmicutes and escape latency (Pearson correlation coefficient - 0.551, p < 0.01) and positive correlation between Proteobacteria and escape latency (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.462, p < 0.05). Electron microscopy revealed signs of blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairments and immunofluorescence images showed glial cells activated in the hippocampus of APP/PS mice without EA, and serum diamine oxidase levels were increased in these mice; whereas EA treatment significantly relieved the above pathological changes. Our findings implied that EA decreases hippocampal inflammation of APP/PS1 by upregulating benificial gut microbiota, reducing BBB and intestinal barrier dysfunction, thus alleviates postoperative cognitive dysfunction. This may provide a novel target in POCD management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Zhu
- The Department of Radiology and Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yanling Zhou
- The Department of Radiology and Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Weijian Zhou
- The Department of Radiology and Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Chunqu Chen
- The Department of Radiology and Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jianhua Wang
- The Department of Radiology and Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Shujun Xu
- Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Jiangbei District, China
| | - Qinwen Wang
- Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Jiangbei District, China
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23
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Zhou YM, Yuan JJ, Xu YQ, Gou YH, Zhu YYX, Chen C, Huang XX, Ma XM, Pi M, Yang ZX. Fecal microbiota as a predictor of acupuncture responses in patients with postpartum depressive disorder. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1228940. [PMID: 38053532 PMCID: PMC10694210 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1228940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There are several clinical and molecular predictors of responses to antidepressant therapy. However, these markers are either too subjective or complex for clinical use. The gut microbiota could provide an easily accessible set of biomarkers to predict therapeutic efficacy, but its value in predicting therapy responses to acupuncture in patients with depression is unknown. Here we analyzed the predictive value of the gut microbiota in patients with postpartum depressive disorder (PPD) treated with acupuncture. Methods Seventy-nine PPD patients were enrolled: 55 were treated with acupuncture and 24 did not received any treatment. The 17-item Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD-17) was used to assess patients at baseline and after eight weeks. Patients receiving acupuncture treatment were divided into an acupuncture-responsive group or non-responsive group according to HAMD-17 scores changes. Baseline fecal samples were obtained from the patients receiving acupuncture and were analyzed by high-throughput 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing to characterize the gut microbiome. Results 47.27% patients responded to acupuncture treatment and 12.5% patients with no treatment recovered after 8-week follow-up. There was no significant difference in α-diversity between responders and non-responders. The β-diversity of non-responders was significantly higher than responders. Paraprevotella and Desulfovibrio spp. were significantly enriched in acupuncture responders, and these organisms had an area under the curve of 0.76 and 0.66 for predicting responder patients, respectively. Conclusions Paraprevotella and Desulfovibrioare may be useful predictive biomarkers to predict PPD patients likely to respond to acupuncture. Larger studies and validation in independent cohorts are now needed to validate our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Mei Zhou
- Department of Acupuncture, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jin-Jun Yuan
- Department of Acupuncture, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yu-Qin Xu
- Department of Acupuncture, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yan-Hua Gou
- Department of Acupuncture, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yannas Y. X. Zhu
- Department of Acupuncture, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Acupuncture and Tuina, Shenzhen Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xing-Xian Huang
- Department of Acupuncture, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Ma
- Department of Acupuncture, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Min- Pi
- Department of Acupuncture, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhuo-Xin Yang
- Department of Acupuncture, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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Li T, Wan M, Qing C, Guan X, Pi J, Lv H, Li W. Lung protection of Chimonanthus nitens Oliv. essential oil driven by the control of intestinal disorders and dysbiosis through gut-lung crosstalk. Life Sci 2023; 333:122156. [PMID: 37805165 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122156] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
This work aimed to investigate whether Chimonanthus nitens Oliv. essential oil (CEO)-mediated lung protection was implicated in gut-lung crosstalk. Results showed that CEO attenuated lung and intestinal impairment by improving histopathological changes and inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in LPS-stimulated rats, suggesting that there might be a mechanism for its lung protection involved in gut-lung interaction through manipulating the overlap in pathological changes via the similar inflammatory response. Furthermore, CEO-triggered intestinal protection was in parallel with the mitigation of ROS production, apoptosis, Ca2+ transport and mitochondrial membrane potential loss in vivo, and its intestinal protection was confirmed in vitro through IEC-6 cells. Importantly, a combination with CEO and LPS significantly remodeled gut microbiota composition compared with LPS alone in rats, while no significant impact on lung microbiota. Therefore, CEO-exerted lung protection was linked to gut and lung interactions involvement with the control of intestinal disorders and dysbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Nanchang University, 235 Nanjing East Road, Nanchang 330047, China
| | - Min Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Nanchang University, 235 Nanjing East Road, Nanchang 330047, China
| | - Cheng Qing
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Xiuping Guan
- Qianhu College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Jinchan Pi
- College of Future Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Hao Lv
- College of Optometry, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Wenjuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Nanchang University, 235 Nanjing East Road, Nanchang 330047, China.
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Chen W, Chen Y, Aslam MS, Shen J, Tong T, Yan S, Cheng W, Huang Z, Li J, Liu S, Li J, Zeng J, Li M, You Z, Meng X. The effect of acupuncture on lateral habenular nucleus and intestinal microflora in depression model rats. Behav Brain Res 2023; 455:114627. [PMID: 37619770 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is a severe emotional condition that significantly affects the quality of life. Acupuncture exerts preventive effects on depression in rats with post-chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Methods The study involved chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depression model mice to administer acupuncture as a preventative measure to investigate the mechanism of acupuncture's antidepressant and observe the effect of acupuncture on impact via the Lateral Habenula (LHb) and Gut-Liver-Brain Axis. The researcher investigated molecules correlating with a nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO/cGMP) pathway and assessed inflammation in the LHb and liver. In addition, 16 S rDNA bioinformatics study revealed the quantity and variety of gut microbiota. Rats were randomly divided into five groups: control (CON), CUMS, CUMS + acupuncture (AP), CUMS + fluoxetine (FX) and CUMS + N(G) -nitro -L- arginine methyl ester (LNAME) group. Except for the CON group, other rats were exposed to CUMS condition for 28 days. Simultaneously, manual acupuncture (at Fengfu and Shangxing acupoints, once every other day) and fluoxetine gavage (2.1 mg/kg, 0.21 mg/mL, daily) were conducted to the groups of AP and FX, respectively, after stressors. Rats in LNAME group were treated with LNAME normal saline (10 mg/kg, 1 mg/mL, i.p.) solution. Behavioural tests and biological detection methods were conducted sequentially to evaluate depressionlike phenotype in rats. RESULTS The results showed CUMS induced depression-like behaviours, hyper-activation of NO/cGMP signaling pathway, inflammation in serum, LHb and liver, and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. These changes could be prevented and ameliorated by acupuncture to varying extents. CONCLUSION Acupuncture prevented and attenuated depression-like phenotype induced by CUMS, possibly via regulating the NO/cGMP signaling pathway and thus improving inflammation in serum, LHb and liver, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. In addition, these can be evidence of the existence of the gut-liver-brain axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Chen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, PR China
| | - Yiping Chen
- First Clinical College, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, PR China
| | | | - Junliang Shen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, PR China
| | - Tao Tong
- Second Clinical College, Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Simin Yan
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, PR China
| | - Wenjing Cheng
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Ezhou Central Hospital, Ezhou, Hubei, PR China
| | - Zichun Huang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, PR China
| | - Jiawei Li
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, PR China
| | - Siyu Liu
- Department of Acupuncture, Longyan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Longyan, Fujian, PR China
| | - Jianguo Li
- Second Clinical College, Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Jingyu Zeng
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, PR China
| | - Meng Li
- Second Clinical College, Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Zhuoran You
- Second Clinical College, Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Xianjun Meng
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, PR China; Traditional Chinese Medicine Foundation of Xiamen, Xiamen, Fujian, PR. China.
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Landgraaf RG, Bloem MN, Fumagalli M, Benninga MA, de Lorijn F, Nieuwdorp M. Acupuncture as multi-targeted therapy for the multifactorial disease obesity: a complex neuro-endocrine-immune interplay. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1236370. [PMID: 37795371 PMCID: PMC10545882 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1236370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of obesity has reached pandemic dimensions. It is associated with multiple comorbidities and is becoming a clinical and public health threat. Obesity is a multifactorial disease with a complex pathophysiology and interplay of various systems. A strong interplay exists between the neuro-endocrine system, the immune system with systemic chronic low-grade inflammation, and microbiome dysbiosis that can lead to the development of obesity, which in turn can exacerbate each of these factors, hence creating a vicious cycle. The conventional treatment with lifestyle modifications such as diet, physical exercise, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery does not always result in sufficient weight control thus paving the way for other strategies. As one such strategy, acupuncture is increasingly used worldwide to treat obesity. This narrative review outlines the evidence for this neuro-endocrine-immune interplay in the pathophysiology of obesity. Furthermore, the existing experimental and clinical evidence of acupuncture as a multi-targeted therapy for obesity is explained and future research perspectives are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond Guy Landgraaf
- Department of Internal and Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Sinomedica Gui Sheng Tang, Scientific Department, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Michelle Nicté Bloem
- Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Massimo Fumagalli
- Sinomedica Gui Sheng Tang, Scientific Department, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Marc Alexander Benninga
- Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Fleur de Lorijn
- Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Max Nieuwdorp
- Department of Internal and Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Experimental Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Zhang RB, Dong LC, Shen Y, Li HY, Huang Q, Yu SG, Wu QF. Electroacupuncture alleviates ulcerative colitis by targeting CXCL1: evidence from the transcriptome and validation. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1187574. [PMID: 37727787 PMCID: PMC10505654 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1187574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background We aimed to use transcriptomics, bioinformatics analysis, and core gene validation to identify the core gene and potential mechanisms for electroacupuncture (EA) treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Materials and methods EA was performed in mice after induction of UC via dextran sodium sulfate. Body weight, disease activity index (DAI), colon length, and hematoxylin-eosin of the colon tissue were used to evaluate the effects of EA. Mice transcriptome samples were analyzed to identify the core genes, and further verified with human transcriptome database; the ImmuCellAI database was used to analyze the relationship between the core gene and immune infiltrating cells (IICs); and immunofluorescence was used to verify the results. Results EA could reduce DAI and histological colitis scores, increase bodyweight and colon length, and improve the expression of local and systemic proinflammatory factors in the serum and colon of UC mice. Eighteen co-differentially expressed genes were identified by joint bioinformatics analyses of mouse and human transcriptional data; Cxcl1 was the core gene. EA affected IICs by inhibiting Cxcl1 expression and regulated the polarization of macrophages by affecting the Th1 cytokine IFN-γ, inhibiting the expression of CXCL1. Conclusions CXCL1 is the target of EA, which is associated with the underlying immune mechanism related to Th1 cytokine IFN-γ.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Shu-Guang Yu
- Acupuncture and Tuina College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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Zhang RB, Dong LC, Huang Q, Shen Y, Li HY, Yu SG, Wu QF. Matrix metalloproteinases are key targets of acupuncture in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2023; 248:1229-1241. [PMID: 37438919 PMCID: PMC10621479 DOI: 10.1177/15353702231182205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to elucidate the key targets of acupuncture in the colon of ulcerative colitis (UC) mice model using full-length transcriptome sequencing. 2.5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mice were treated with or without acupuncture. Intestinal pathology was observed, and full transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis were performed. The results demonstrated that acupuncture treatment reduced the UC symptoms, disease activity index score, and histological colitis score and increased body weight, colon length, and the number of intestinal goblet cells. In addition, acupuncture can also decrease the expression of necrotic biomarker phosphorylates mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudo kinase (p-MLKL). Full-length transcriptome analysis indicated that acupuncture reversed the expression of 987 of the 1918 upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and 632 of the 1351 downregulated DEGs induced by DSS. DEGs regulated by acupuncture were mainly involved in inflammatory responses and intestinal barrier pathways. The protein-protein interaction network analysis revealed that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are important genes regulated by acupuncture. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction was an important target of acupuncture. In addition, alternative splicing analysis suggested that acupuncture improved signaling pathways related to intestinal permeability, the biological processes of xenobiotics, sulfur compounds, and that monocarboxylic acids are closely associated with MMPs. Overall, our transcriptome analysis results indicate that acupuncture improves intestinal barrier function in UC through negative regulation of MMPs expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Qin Huang
- Acupuncture and Tuina College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Yuan Shen
- Acupuncture and Tuina College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Hong-Ying Li
- Acupuncture and Tuina College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Shu-Guang Yu
- Acupuncture and Tuina College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Qiao-Feng Wu
- Acupuncture and Tuina College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
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Wang L, Hu X, Geng L, Li N, Chen Y, Zhang J, Yuan X, Huang L, Ba D, Lian J, Lyu X, Chen Z, Zhang Y, Chen B. Multi-effective characteristics and advantages of acupuncture in COVID-19 treatment. ACUPUNCTURE AND HERBAL MEDICINE 2023; 3:83-95. [PMID: 37810368 PMCID: PMC10317192 DOI: 10.1097/hm9.0000000000000062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a major disease that threatens human life and health. Its pathogenesis is complex and still not fully clarified. The clinical treatment is mainly supportive and lacks specific treatment methods. Acupuncture treatment can inhibit immune inflammatory reactions, neuroinflammatory reactions, oxidative stress levels, and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, improve lung function, and relieve migraine, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. However, whether acupuncture treatment is suitable for treating these symptoms in patients with COVID-19 still needs to be investigated. For this review, the literature was systematically searched for multiple databases to summarize the mechanisms of acupuncture treatment for COVID-19-related symptoms and complications. A complex network analysis of acupoints and symptoms was also performed to clarify acupoint selection in the acupuncture treatment of symptoms related to COVID-19. The evidence indicates that acupuncture can improve the respiratory, digestive, nervous, and mental and psychological symptoms related to COVID-19 by inhibiting immune inflammatory reactions, regulating intestinal flora, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress level, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, neurotransmitter release, and HPA axis activity, and alleviating basic diseases such as diseases of the vascular system. Acupuncture can improve various clinical and concomitant symptoms of COVID-19; however, its mechanism of action is complex and requires further study. Graphical abstract http://links.lww.com/AHM/A54.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifen Wang
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiyou Hu
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Lianqi Geng
- School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Ningcen Li
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Jingyu Zhang
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Xinru Yuan
- 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
| | - Dongsheng Ba
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Jinyu Lian
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoyan Lyu
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Zelin Chen
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Fourth Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM Binhai New Area Hospital of TCM Tianjin,Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, Tianjin, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, the United States of America
| | - Bo Chen
- School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Fourth Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM Binhai New Area Hospital of TCM Tianjin,Tianjin, China
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Yan W, Kan Z, Yin J, Ma Y. Efficacy and Safety of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (TEAS) As An Analgesic Intervention for Labor Pain: A Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Pain Ther 2023; 12:631-644. [PMID: 36934401 PMCID: PMC10199978 DOI: 10.1007/s40122-023-00496-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Epidural analgesia (EA) is the most widely used intervention for the reduction of labor pain; however, it is contra-indicated for patients with spinal deformity or allergy to anesthetics and may be refused by parturients. As a noninvasive and nonnarcotic analgesic intervention, transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) has gained increasing attention in recent years. Therefore, we performed a network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of TEAS and EA as measured by visual analog scale score, the failure rate of natural delivery, adverse events, and Apgar scores. METHODS Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from four electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL) and clinical trials.gov were searched from inception until September 4, 2022. A random effects model was used during analysis, and outcomes were evaluated as standard mean difference (SMD), odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CrI) using STATA (version SE15.0), R (version 3.6.1), and ADDIS (version 1.16.8) software. RESULTS Ten RCTs comprising 1214 parturients were identified by screening. Six RCTs compared TEAS and controls, three compared EA and controls, and one compared TEAS and EA. No heterogeneity was found within the four outcomes. There was no significant difference in any outcomes between interventions or control treatments in terms of SMD, OR, and CrI. Combined with the highest surface under the cumulative ranking curve score, TEAS demonstrated possible better effects in the aspects of analgesic efficacy and safety under certain circumstances. CONCLUSIONS TEAS may be a potential alternative for parturients as a simple, noninvasive, and non-pharmacological intervention compared with EA in terms of analgesic efficacy and safety for mothers and neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Yan
- College of Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China
| | - Zunqi Kan
- College of Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China
| | - Jiahui Yin
- College of Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China
| | - Yuxia Ma
- Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China.
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Zhang Q, Deng P, Chen S, Xu H, Zhang Y, Chen H, Zhang J, Sun H. Electroacupuncture and human iPSC-derived small extracellular vesicles regulate the gut microbiota in ischemic stroke via the brain-gut axis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1107559. [PMID: 36742316 PMCID: PMC9895941 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1107559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Electroacupuncture (EA) and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived small extracellular vesicles (iPSC-EVs) have substantial beneficial effects on ischemic stroke. However, the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we explored the mechanisms underlying the regulation of EA and iPSC-EVs in the microbiome-gut-brain axis (MGBA) after ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke mice (C57BL/6) were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) or Sham surgery. EA and iPSC-EVs treatments significantly improved neurological function and neuronal and intestinal tract injury, downregulated the levels of IL-17 expression and upregulated IL-10 levels in brain and colon tissue after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. EA and iPSC-EVs treatments also modulated the microbiota composition and diversity as well as the differential distribution of species in the intestines of the mice after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. Our results demonstrated that EA and iPSC-EVs treatments regulated intestinal immunity through MGBA regulation of intestinal microbes, reducing brain and colon damage following cerebral ischemia and positively impacting the outcomes of ischemic stroke. Our findings provide new insights into the application of EA combined with iPSC-EVs as a treatment for ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiongqiong Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Peiying Deng
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Suhui Chen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Xu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yamin Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Chen
- CAMS Key Laboratory for T-Cell and Immunotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China,Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China,Changzhou Xitaihu Institute for Frontier Technology of Cell Therapy, Changzhou, China
| | - Jianmin Zhang
- CAMS Key Laboratory for T-Cell and Immunotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China,Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China,Changzhou Xitaihu Institute for Frontier Technology of Cell Therapy, Changzhou, China,Guidon Pharmaceutics, Inc., Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Jianmin Zhang, ; Hua Sun,
| | - Hua Sun
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Jianmin Zhang, ; Hua Sun,
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Jia S, Lu W, Hang M, Zhang C, Ma Z, Xue K, Lu Y, Zhang S, Guo Y, Zhang J, Zhang X, Wang Y, Zhao H. Study on the effect of acupunture treatment on autonomic nerve dysfunction in convalescent period of stroke based on heart rate variability assessment technique. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e32355. [PMID: 36550889 PMCID: PMC9771218 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000032355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Stroke patients with autonomic dysfunction are more likely to develop cardiac problems, which have been linked to lower functional outcomes and increased mortality. In this study, heart rate variability (HRV) detection paired with the Clinical Feature Scale will be utilized to elucidate the immediate impact of manual acupuncture on autonomic dysfunction of varying severity in the convalescence stroke phase. This is a randomized, single-blind, controlled clinical trial approach. At a ratio of 1:1, 60 appropriate patients will be randomly randomized into either the experimental or control group. On the basis of symptomatic treatment drugs, the experimental group will additionally undertake acupuncture therapy 3 times a week for 4 weeks, for a total of 12 times. Primary outcomes include 24-hour HRV and 60-minute HRV detection at week 4 compared with baseline. The secondary outcome is the score of clinical feature scale at week 4 compared with the baseline. Adverse events and safety indices will be recorded throughout the experiment. The SPSS V.25.0 statistical program was applied for analysis, and measurement data were expressed as mean ± SD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shijing Jia
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wang Lu
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- * Correspondence: Wang Lu, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 725 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, China (e-mail: )
| | - Minghui Hang
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chu Zhang
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zilin Ma
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kun Xue
- Shanghai Changning Tianshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunqi Lu
- Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Shenghong Zhang
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yijin Guo
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiabao Zhang
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yimeng Wang
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Haiyin Zhao
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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An J, Wang L, Song S, Tian L, Liu Q, Mei M, Li W, Liu S. Electroacupuncture reduces blood glucose by regulating intestinal flora in type 2 diabetic mice. J Diabetes 2022; 14:695-710. [PMID: 36195536 PMCID: PMC9574722 DOI: 10.1111/1753-0407.13323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of diabetes is closely related to the gut microbiota in recent studies, which can be influenced by intestinal motility. A few studies report that electroacupuncture (EA) can lower blood glucose. EA can promote colonic motility and influence gut microbes. In this study, we explored the effect of the EA on blood glucose level in mice with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its mechanism. METHODS The T2D mice model, fecal microbiota transplantation mice model, and KitW/Wv mice model （Point mutation of mouse W locus encoding kit gene）were used to investigate the effect of EA on blood glucose as well as the mechanism; The blood glucose and insulin resistance level and the intestinal flora were evaluated. The level of intestinal junction protein, inflammatory cytokines in the serum, interstitial cells of Cajal content, and colonic motility were detected. Lastly, the IKKβ/NF-κB-JNK-IRS-1-AKT pathway was explored. RESULTS EA lowered the blood glucose level, altered the gut microbiota, and promoted colonic motility in T2D mice. EA-altered microbiota decreased the blood glucose level and insulin resistance in the antibiotics-treated diabetic mice. EA increased tight junction protein, lowered inflammatory factors, and regulated the IKKβ/NF-κB-JNK-IRS-1-AKT pathway in the liver and muscles. EA could not reduce the blood glucose and regulated gut microbiota in the KitW/Wv mice model. CONCLUSIONS EA promoted intestinal motility to regulate the intestinal flora, thereby reducing the level of systemic inflammation, and ultimately lowering the blood glucose by the IKKβ/NF-κB-JNK-IRS-1-AKT signal pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing An
- Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Lingli Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Shuangning Song
- Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Lugao Tian
- Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Qingqing Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Minhui Mei
- Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Wenhua Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Shi Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
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Xia X, Xie Y, Gong Y, Zhan M, He Y, Liang X, Jin Y, Yang Y, Ding W. Electroacupuncture promoted intestinal defensins and rescued the dysbiotic cecal microbiota of high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Life Sci 2022; 309:120961. [PMID: 36116529 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Obesity is currently one of the most important challenges to public health worldwide. Acupuncture has been widely used to treat obesity. However, whether acupuncture regulates intestinal innate immunity via intestinal microbiota against obesity remains to be elucidated. In this study, electroacupuncture (EA) effectively reduced body weight and fat accumulation in obese mice persistently fed a high-fat diet. Full-length 16S rDNA sequencing showed dysbiotic microbiota in the cecum of obese mice. The composition and function of the cecal microbiota of obese mice were markedly restored after EA treatment. After 21 d of EA intervention, the expression of defensin alpha 5 (Defa5) was restored to healthy controls, whereas fat digestion and absorption genes including fabp1 were markedly decreased in the jejunum of obese mice. The Defa5 levels were positively correlated with the family Lachnospiraceae and negatively correlated with obesity indexes. EA also reduced tissue inflammation, ameliorated misaligned glucose tolerance, and inhibited key genes for intestinal lipid absorption. In summary, EA exerted an anti-obesity effect by promoting intestinal defensins, rescuing dysbiotic cecal microbiota, and reducing lipid absorption in a synergistic mode. We present for the first time the key role of alpha defensins in the relationship between gut microbiota and disease during electroacupuncture treatment of obesity. The mucosal innate immunity seems to have a stronger ability to shape the microbiota than dietary factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuwen Xia
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Ya Xie
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yanju Gong
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Meng Zhan
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yan He
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xinyu Liang
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yue Jin
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Youjun Yang
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Weijun Ding
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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Geng Z, Nie X, Ling L, Li B, Liu P, Yuan L, Zhang K, Liu T, Zhang B. Electroacupuncture May Inhibit Oxidative Stress of Premature Ovarian Failure Mice by Regulating Intestinal Microbiota. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:4362317. [PMID: 36082082 PMCID: PMC9448555 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4362317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Premature ovarian failure (POF) is the leading cause of female infertility, and there is no optimal treatment or medication available currently. For POF, electroacupuncture (EA) has been considered a promising therapeutic approach, but the mechanism for this is not clear. In this study, we explored the effects of EA (CV4, ST36, and SP6) on oxidative stress and intestinal microbiota of high-fat and high-sugar- (HFHS-) induced POF mice. The development of mice follicles was observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The serum levels of estrone (E1), estrogen (E2), estriol (E3), and 21-deoxycortisol (21D) were measured by the HPLC-MS/MS method. The concentrations of Fe2+, superoxide dismutase (SOD), hydroxyl radical (·OH), glutathione (GSH), superoxide anion, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured by spectrophotometry. The 16S-rDNA sequencing was used to measure many parameters related to the host gut bacteriome and mycobiome composition, relative abundance, and diversity. mRNA expression levels of ferroptosis-related genes were determined by RT-qPCR. After 4 weeks of EA intervention in POF mice, mature follicles were increased and the levels of the sex hormone were improved. SOD activities, antisuperoxide activities, and GSH increased while MDA, ·OH, and Fe2+ decreased. In addition, EA also altered the intestinal microbiota. These results reveal that EA can effectively inhibit ovarian oxidative stress and the accumulation of Fe2+ in POF mice. It may be that the alteration in the intestinal microbiota is one of the potential mechanisms of EA treatment. These findings suggest that EA has clinical potential as a safe treatment for POF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixiang Geng
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200086, China
- Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiaoli Nie
- Shanghai Geriatric Institute of Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Lele Ling
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200086, China
| | - Bingrong Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200086, China
| | - Long Yuan
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200086, China
| | - Kaiyong Zhang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200086, China
| | - Te Liu
- Shanghai Geriatric Institute of Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Bimeng Zhang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200086, China
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Hao X, Ding N, Zhang Y, Yang Y, Zhao Y, Zhao J, Li Y, Li Z. Benign regulation of the gut microbiota: The possible mechanism through which the beneficial effects of manual acupuncture on cognitive ability and intestinal mucosal barrier function occur in APP/PS1 mice. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:960026. [PMID: 35992924 PMCID: PMC9382294 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.960026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gut microbiota dysbiosis and intestinal barrier injury play vital roles in Alzheimer's disease (AD) onset and development. Our previous studies have demonstrated that manual acupuncture (MA) could improve the cognitive abilities of APP/PS1 mice. However, the effect of MA on the intestinal mucosal barrier and the gut microbiota mechanism through which this effect occurs remain to be clarified. Methods In the APP/PS1 manual acupuncture (Am) group, MA was applied in Baihui (GV20), Yintang (GV29), and Zusanli (ST36). Mice in the APP/PS1 antibiotic + manual acupuncture (Aa) group were treated with an antibiotic mixture and MA at the same time. Probiotics were delivered to the APP/PS1 probiotics (Ap) group. Alterations in spatial learning and memory, the gut microbiota, the intestinal barrier function, and the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and TNF-α were evaluated in each group. Results Compared with the C57BL/6 control (Cc) group, cognitive ability was significantly decreased, the gut microbiota structure was obviously disrupted, intestinal barrier integrity was drastically impaired, and the intestinal inflammatory response was enhanced in the APP/PS1 control (Ac) group (P < 0.01). These changes were reversed by MA and probiotics (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), whereas antibiotics inhibited the benign regulation by MA (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Conclusion Manual acupuncture can benignly modulate gut microbiota dysbiosis, significantly reduce intestinal inflammation, and effectively alleviate the destruction of the intestinal mucosal barrier in APP/PS1 mice, and the effects are comparable to those of probiotics. The gut microbiota may play an important role in the improvement of the cognitive function and intestinal barrier function by MA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Hao
- School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Ding
- Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yichen Yang
- School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yali Zhao
- School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Zhao
- School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yiran Li
- International School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhigang Li
- School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Efficacy and Safety of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation for Postoperative Pain: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Pain Res Manag 2022; 2022:7570533. [PMID: 35463630 PMCID: PMC9023215 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7570533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Objective This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) in treating post-operative pain. Methods This meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021286753). We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about TEAS in treating postoperative pain that were published before November 2021. The primary outcome was visual analogue scale (VAS) within 24 h after surgery. The secondary outcomes included postoperative opioid analgesic drug consumption and the occurrence of adverse reactions within the postoperative 24–72 h. Adverse reactions included dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Continuous variables were analyzed using mean difference (MDs) or standardized mean difference (SMDs) and 95% CIs. Relative risk (RR) and 95% CI were used for dichotomous data. The data were pooled and analyzed by RevMan 5.4 and STATA15.0 software. Results Seventeen trials with 1375 participants were included. The current results suggested that application of TEAS showed obvious superiority in reducing VAS scores (SMD = −1.51, 95% CI = −2.20∼−0.82, I2 = 96%). Subgroup analysis was performed according to open surgery and minimally invasive surgery. VAS scores were decreased after surgery at 24 h (SMD = −0.84, 95% CI = −1.07∼−0.6, I2 = 96%; SMD = −0.88, 95% CI = −1.02∼−0.75, I2 = 96%). The incidence of postoperative dizziness and nausea and vomiting was significantly lower in the TEAS group within postoperative 24–72 h (RR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.34∼0.68, I2 = 0%; RR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.44∼1.01, I2 = 69%; and RR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.24∼1.00, I2 = 51%). Postoperative opioid analgesics were also reduced in the TEAS group within 72 h after surgery (SMD = −2.10, 95% CI = −3.37∼−0.82, I2 = 96%). Conclusions TEAS can reduce postoperative pain as well as the incidence of dizziness, nausea, and vomiting and the number of analgesics used after surgery. TEAS is a reasonable modality to incorporate into a multimodal management approach for postoperative pain.
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Guo Y, Xu C, Gong R, Hu T, Zhang X, Xie X, Chi J, Li H, Xia X, Liu X. Exosomal CagA from Helicobacter pylori aggravates intestinal epithelium barrier dysfunction in chronic colitis by facilitating Claudin-2 expression. Gut Pathog 2022; 14:13. [PMID: 35331316 PMCID: PMC8944046 DOI: 10.1186/s13099-022-00486-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), especially cytotoxin-associated gene A-positive (CagA+) strains, has been associated with various extragastric disorders. Evaluating the potential impacts of virulence factor CagA on intestine may provide a better understanding of H. pylori pathogenesis such as colitis. The intestinal mucosal barrier is essential for maintaining its integrity and functions. However, how persistent CagA+ H. pylori colonization influences barrier disruption and thereby affects chronic colitis is not fully understood. RESULTS Chronic colitis models of CagA+ H. pylori-colonized mice treated with 2% Dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) were established to assess the disease activity and pertinent expression of tight junction proteins closely related to mucosal integrity. The aggravating effect of CagA+ H. pylori infection on DSS-induced chronic colitis was confirmed in mouse models. In addition, augmented Claudin-2 expression was detected in CagA+ H. pylori infection conditions and selected for mechanistic analysis. Next, GES-1 human gastric epithelial cells were cultured with CagA+ H. pylori or a recombinant CagA protein, and exosomes isolated from conditioned media were then identified. We assessed the Claudin-2 levels after exposure to CagA+ exosomes, CagA- exosomes, and IFN-γ incubation, revealing that CagA+ H. pylori compromised the colonic mucosal barrier and facilitated IFN-γ-induced intestinal epithelial destruction through CagA-containing exosome-mediated mechanisms. Specifically, CagA upregulated Claudin-2 expression at the transcriptional level via a CDX2-dependent mechanism to slow the restoration of wounded mucosa in colitis in vitro. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that exosomes containing CagA facilitate CDX2-dependent Claudin-2 maintenance. The exosome-dependent mechanisms of CagA+ H. pylori infection are indispensable for damaging the mucosal barrier integrity in chronic colitis, which may provide a new idea for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinjie Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China.,Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Canxia Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonresolving Inflammation and Cancer, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Renjie Gong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Tingzi Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Xiaoran Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Jingshu Chi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Huan Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Xiujuan Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China.
| | - Xiaoming Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, China. .,Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonresolving Inflammation and Cancer, Changsha, 410013, China.
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Oh JE, Kim SN. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Acupuncture at ST36 Point: A Literature Review in Animal Studies. Front Immunol 2022; 12:813748. [PMID: 35095910 PMCID: PMC8790576 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.813748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
So far, a number of acupuncture studies have shown anti-inflammatory effects of acupuncture treatment, mostly known at specific point ST36. However, there is no literature that oversaw the inflammation-regulatory effects of acupuncture in each tissue. Therefore, we investigated how acupuncture at specific acupoint ST36 regulates inflammation and its underlying mechanisms. We searched literatures on PubMed until July 2021 using the keywords “animal, acupuncture, ST36, inflammation, immune,” and 292 literatures were searched. We ultimately selected 69 studies to determine the anti-inflammatory actions of acupuncture at ST36 and classified the changes of inflammatory mediators according to target regions. Forty-three studies were included in body fluids, 27 studies in the digestive system, 17 studies in the nervous system, and 30 studies in other tissues or organs. In this review, we found that acupuncture at ST36 has clinical benefits in relieving inflammation through several mechanisms such as vagus nerve activation, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/NF-κB signaling, macrophage polarization, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, and cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. We expect that these data will inform further studies related to ST36 acupuncture on inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Eun Oh
- College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University, Goyang, South Korea
| | - Seung-Nam Kim
- College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University, Goyang, South Korea
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A Review on the Immunomodulatory Mechanism of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:8528938. [PMID: 35075366 PMCID: PMC8783701 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8528938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease with a high prevalence and canceration rate. The immune disorder is one of the recognized mechanisms. Acupuncture is widely used to treat patients with IBD. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have proven the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of IBD, and some progress has been made in the mechanism. In this paper, we reviewed the studies related to acupuncture for IBD and focused on the immunomodulatory mechanism. We found that acupuncture could regulate the innate and adaptive immunity of IBD patients in many ways. Acupuncture exerts innate immunomodulatory effects by regulating intestinal epithelial barrier, toll-like receptors, NLRP3 inflammasomes, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum stress and exerts adaptive immunomodulation by regulating the balance of Th17/Treg and Th1/Th2 cells. In addition, acupuncture can also regulate intestinal flora.
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Wang H, Chen X, Chen C, Pan T, Li M, Yao L, Li X, Lu Q, Wang H, Wang Z. Electroacupuncture at Lower He-Sea and Front-Mu Acupoints Ameliorates Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Regulating the Intestinal Flora and Gut Barrier. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes 2022; 15:2265-2276. [PMID: 35936053 PMCID: PMC9348137 DOI: 10.2147/dmso.s374843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The study objective was to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture performed at the he-sea and front-mu acupoints on the intestinal microflora and intestinal barrier in db/db mice and to explore the related mechanism in type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS Db/m mice in the normal control group (NOC), electroacupuncture group (EA), metformin group (MET) and T2DM group (T2DM) were used as model controls, and db/db mice were used in all three groups, with 8 mice in each group. The treatment period was 2 weeks. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) and triglyceride (TG) levels were measured. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were detected by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). The ileal tissue was stained with hematoxylin-eosin staining (H&E), and histopathological changes were observed under a light microscope. Illumina sequencing was used to analyze the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene to evaluate the effect of EA on the intestinal flora. RESULTS Our results suggest that EA treatment can reduce the expression of diabetes-related markers, with an effect similar to that of metformin. After EA intervention, the abundance of Firmicutes and the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes increased, while the abundances of Bacteroidetes and Eubacterium decreased. In addition, the serum levels of LPS and TNF-α in the electroacupuncture group were downregulated, and ileal tissue damage was alleviated under an electron microscope. CONCLUSION EA combined with acupoints can restore the intestinal flora structure, decrease the blood LPS level, reduce levels of inflammation, maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier, and play a therapeutic role in the treatment of T2DM, mainly by increasing the abundance of Firmicutes and the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes and decreasing the abundances of Bacteroidetes and Eubacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haili Wang
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, 130117, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinhua Chen
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chunhai Chen
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ting Pan
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, 130117, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mengyuan Li
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, 130117, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lin Yao
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, 130117, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuefeng Li
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, 130117, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qi Lu
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, 130117, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongfeng Wang
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, 130117, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Hongfeng Wang, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, 130117, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86 431 86172008, Email
| | - Zhaohui Wang
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, 130117, People’s Republic of China
- Bao’an Authentic TCM Therapy Hospital, Shenzhen, 518101, People’s Republic of China
- Zhaohui Wang, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, 130117, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86 431 8687856, Email
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Yang NN, Lin LL, Li YJ, Li HP, Cao Y, Tan CX, Hao XW, Ma SM, Wang L, Liu CZ. Potential Mechanisms and Clinical Effectiveness of Acupuncture in Depression. Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:738-750. [PMID: 35168522 PMCID: PMC9878952 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666210609162809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder is the most common mental disorder with significant economic burden and limited treatments. Acupuncture has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological treatment for reducing depressive symptoms. However, the potential mechanisms and clinical effectiveness of acupuncture are not fully understood. This review aimed to: (1) summarize the available evidence on the mechanisms and clinical effectiveness of acupuncture for depression, and then (2) compare with pharmacological interventions, guiding future studies. Studies with animal models of depression and patients have shown that acupuncture could increase hippocampal and network neuroplasticity and decrease brain inflammation, potentially to alleviating depressive disorders. Overall clinical studies indicated that acupuncture could relieve primary depression, particularly milder cases, and was helpful in the management of post-stroke depression, pain-related depression, and postpartum depression both as an isolated and adjunct treatment. It was emphasized that acupuncture combined with antidepressant pharmacological treatment not only enhanced the improvement of primary and secondary depressive symptoms but also reduced the side effects of the medical treatment, which is the main cause for high dropout rates with drug treatment. In summary, substantial evidence from animal and human researches supported the beneficial effect of acupuncture in depression. However, most clinical trials of acupuncture were small, and it is unclear whether their findings can be generalized, so more studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na-Na Yang
- International Acupuncture and Moxibustion Innovation Institute, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tunia, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Lu-Lu Lin
- International Acupuncture and Moxibustion Innovation Institute, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tunia, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yue-Jie Li
- International Acupuncture and Moxibustion Innovation Institute, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tunia, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Hong-Ping Li
- International Acupuncture and Moxibustion Innovation Institute, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tunia, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yan Cao
- International Acupuncture and Moxibustion Innovation Institute, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tunia, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Chun-Xia Tan
- International Acupuncture and Moxibustion Innovation Institute, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tunia, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Xiao-Wan Hao
- International Acupuncture and Moxibustion Innovation Institute, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tunia, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Si-Ming Ma
- International Acupuncture and Moxibustion Innovation Institute, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tunia, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Lu Wang
- International Acupuncture and Moxibustion Innovation Institute, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tunia, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Cun-Zhi Liu
- International Acupuncture and Moxibustion Innovation Institute, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tunia, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
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Hong H, Song HK, Jang B, Park E, Han DS, Kim SE, Oh ES. Colocalization with MMP-7 in the Distal Colon is Crucial for Syndecan-2 Shedding in Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis Mice. J Inflamm Res 2021; 14:4987-5000. [PMID: 34616168 PMCID: PMC8488046 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s329234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Syndecan-2 expression is elevated during chronic inflammation and cancer development, and its shedding is observed in cancer patients. However, it remained unknown whether inflammation triggers syndecan-2 shedding. Methods The colitis model was produced in C57BL/6 mice by oral administration of 2–3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in the drinking water. Syndecan-2 and MMP-7 expression levels in tissues and cells were detected by real-time PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Shed syndecan-2 levels were detected by slot blotting. For tissue culture, colon tissues were divided into proximal, transverse, and distal parts, and incubated in culture media. Results In C57BL/6 mice with DSS-induced colitis, syndecan-2 shedding began to increase after week 12 of chronic inflammation and continued to increase at week 15. The level of shed syndecan-2 correlated with the colocalization of syndecan-2 and MMP-7 in distal colon tissues. The mRNA expression of IL-6 was increased specifically in trans-distal colon tissues from weeks 9 to 15. IL-6 induced syndecan-2 expression and shedding and MMP-7 expression in ex vivo-cultured distal colon tissues and adenoma cell lines derived from the distal colon. IL-6 treatment induced STAT3 phosphorylation and MMP-7 expression in DLD-1 cells. The application of MMP-7 to ex vivo-cultured colon tissues increased the shedding of syndecan-2 to the culture medium. Conclusion Our findings suggest that chronic inflammation induces syndecan-2 shedding via the site-specific colocalization of syndecan-2 with MMP-7 in the distal colon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heejeong Hong
- Department of Life Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyun-Kuk Song
- Department of Life Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Bohee Jang
- Department of Life Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eunhye Park
- Department of Life Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dong Soo Han
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, South Korea
| | - Seong-Eun Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Ewha Medical Research Institute, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eok-Soo Oh
- Department of Life Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
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Zhang C, Li D. Effects of Electroacupuncture on Alleviating Prostatodynia and Inflammation in Rats with Chronic Nonbacterial Prostatitis. J Pain Res 2021; 14:2757-2765. [PMID: 34522134 PMCID: PMC8434923 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s321119] [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: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Chronic prostatitis (CP) is a common urinary disease characterized by a complex sequence of symptoms including prostatodynia, which results in significant physical pain and mental burden to affected patients. Currently, CP has no standard treatment. Thus, physical therapy electroacupuncture (EA) which has been successful in treating several inflammation-related pain conditions was used to determine its effect on rats with CP. Materials and Methods Rats were castrated and treated with beta-estradiol for 28 days for CP modeling, and EA was initiated one week after. Following three weeks of treatment, pain-related behavioral testing, mechanical withdrawal threshold, and potential histopathological mechanisms were examined. Results EA treatment produced a significant antinociceptive effect, effectively increasing the pain threshold of CP rats, and the biochemical results revealed significantly lowered prostatic specific antigen levels. Histopathological results also demonstrated that EA exerted protective properties on prostate morphological changes, as well as decreased inflammation cytokines and oxidative stress molecular expressions in prostate tissue. Furthermore, EA alleviated microglial and astrocyte activation in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, decreasing CXC motif ligand 1 expressions in activated spinal astrocytes. Conclusion In conclusion, it was demonstrated that EA alleviated CP-induced pain, which was partly achieved by the downregulation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and spinal cord glial activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhang
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ding Li
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Qu Y, Li X, Xu F, Zhao S, Wu X, Wang Y, Xie J. Kaempferol Alleviates Murine Experimental Colitis by Restoring Gut Microbiota and Inhibiting the LPS-TLR4-NF-κB Axis. Front Immunol 2021; 12:679897. [PMID: 34367139 PMCID: PMC8339999 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.679897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Intestinal microbiota dysbiosis is an established characteristic of ulcerative colitis (UC). Regulating the gut microbiota is an attractive alternative UC treatment strategy, considering the potential adverse effects of synthetic drugs used to treat UC. Kaempferol (Kae) is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant flavonoid derived from a variety of medicinal plants. In this study, we determined the efficacy and mechanism of action of Kae as an anti-UC agent in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice. DSS challenge in a mouse model of UC led to weight loss, diarrhea accompanied by mucous and blood, histological abnormalities, and shortening of the colon, all of which were significantly alleviated by pretreatment with Kae. In addition, intestinal permeability was shown to improve using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran administration. DSS-induced destruction of the intestinal barrier was also significantly prevented by Kae administration via increases in the levels of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1. Furthermore, Kae pretreatment decreased the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α and downregulated transcription of an array of inflammatory signaling molecules, while it increased IL-10 mRNA expression. Notably, Kae reshaped the intestinal microbiome by elevating the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio; increasing the linear discriminant analysis scores of beneficial bacteria, such as Prevotellaceae and Ruminococcaceae; and reducing the richness of Proteobacteria in DSS-challenged mice. There was also an evident shift in the profile of fecal metabolites in the Kae treatment group. Serum LPS levels and downstream TLR4-NF-κB signaling were downregulated by Kae supplementation. Moreover, fecal microbiota transplantation from Kae-treated mice to the DSS-induced mice confirmed the effects of Kae on modulating the gut microbiota to alleviate UC. Therefore, Kae may exert protective effects against colitis mice through regulating the gut microbiota and TLR4-related signaling pathways. This study demonstrates the anti-UC effects of Kae and its potential therapeutic mechanisms, and offers novel insights into the prevention of inflammatory diseases using natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Qu
- Inner Mongolia Clinical College, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
- Clinical Laboratory, Inner Mongolia People’s Hospital, Hohhot, China
| | - Xinyi Li
- College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Fengying Xu
- Inner Mongolia Clinical College, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Shimin Zhao
- College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Xuemei Wu
- College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Yuzhen Wang
- College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Jiming Xie
- Clinical Laboratory, Inner Mongolia People’s Hospital, Hohhot, China
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The Regulatory Effects of Licochalcone A on the Intestinal Epithelium and Gut Microbiota in Murine Colitis. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26144149. [PMID: 34299424 PMCID: PMC8304238 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26144149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut epithelium is a mechanical barrier that protects the host from the luminal microenvironment and interacts with the gut microflora, which influences the development and progression of ulcerative colitis (UC). Licochalcone A (LA) exerts anti-inflammatory effects against UC; however, whether it also regulates both the gut barrier and microbiota during colitis is unknown. The current study was conducted to reveal the regulatory effects of LA on the intestinal epithelium and gut microflora in C57BL/6 mice subjected to dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Sulfasalazine (SASP) was used as the positive control. Results of clinical symptoms evaluation, hematoxylin, and eosin (H&E) staining, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assays showed that LA significantly inhibited DSS-induced weight loss, disease activity index (DAI) increase, histological damage, and gut inflammation. Additionally, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis showed that LA maintained the integrity of the intestinal barrier by suppressing cell apoptosis and preserving the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins. Notably, the optimal dose of LA for gut barrier preservation was low, while that for anti-inflammatory effects was high, indicating that LA might preserve gut barrier integrity via direct effects on the epithelial cells (ECs) and TJ proteins. Furthermore, 16S rRNA analysis suggested that the regulatory effect of LA on the gut microbiota differed distinctly according to dose. Correlation analysis indicated that a low dose of LA significantly modulated the intestinal barrier-associated bacteria as compared with a moderate or high dose of LA. Western blot (WB) analysis indicated that LA exhibited anti-UC activity partly by blocking the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Our results further elucidate the pharmacological activity of LA against UC and will provide valuable information for future studies regarding on the regulatory effects of LA on enteric diseases.
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Gheorghe CE, Ritz NL, Martin JA, Wardill HR, Cryan JF, Clarke G. Investigating causality with fecal microbiota transplantation in rodents: applications, recommendations and pitfalls. Gut Microbes 2021; 13:1941711. [PMID: 34328058 PMCID: PMC8331043 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2021.1941711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, studies investigating the role of the gut microbiota in health and diseases have increased enormously - making it essential to deepen and question the research methodology employed. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in rodent studies (either from human or animal donors) allows us to better understand the causal role of the intestinal microbiota across multiple fields. However, this technique lacks standardization and requires careful experimental design in order to obtain optimal results. By comparing several studies in which rodents are the final recipients of FMT, we summarize the common practices employed. In this review, we document the limitations of this method and highlight different parameters to be considered while designing FMT Studies. Standardizing this method is challenging, as it differs according to the research topic, but avoiding common pitfalls is feasible. Several methodological questions remain unanswered to this day and we offer a discussion on issues to be explored in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra E. Gheorghe
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Nathaniel L. Ritz
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Jason A. Martin
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Hannah R. Wardill
- Precision Medicine, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - John F. Cryan
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Gerard Clarke
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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