The Journal of Practical Medicine ›› 2024, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (11): 1494-1499.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2024.11.005

• Feature Reports:Parkinson's disease • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of electroacupuncture on MPTP⁃induced FoXO1/NLRP3 pathway mediated neuroinflammation in mice with Parkinson′s disease

Mengni HU,Xiaolei ZHANG,Zhen RONG,Yao WANG,Ya′nan LI,Jun. MA()   

  1. School of Acupuncture,Moxibustion and Orthopedics,Hubei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Wuhan 430061,China
  • Received:2023-12-07 Online:2024-06-10 Published:2024-06-13
  • Contact: Jun. MA E-mail:mj-1964@163.com

Abstract:

Objective To investigate whether the mechanism of action of electro-acupuncture in MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease (PD) model mice is related to neuroinflammation mediated by the forkhead box protein O1 (FoXO1)/NOD-like receptor heat protein structural domain-related protein 3 (NLRP3) signaling pathway. Methods Thirty mice were randomly divided into control (Ctrl), model (MPTP), and electro-acupuncture (EA) groups, with 10 mice in each group. PD mouse model was prepared by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) 30 mg/(kg·d) for 7 d consecutively. Behavioral changes of mice were observed by open field and pole-climbing experiments; α-synuclein (α-syn) expression in the substantia nigra of the midbrain was observed by immunohistochemistry; FoXO1, NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 were determined by Western blot; and the expression of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was detected by ELISA in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. Results Mice in the MPTP group showed significant behavioral deficits, with a significant increase in midbrain substantia nigra α-syn (P < 0.01), elevated levels of Iba-1, FoXO1, NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 proteins (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), and a significant increase in the levels of TNF-α, and IL-1β (P < 0.01).The treatment of EA was effective in improve the dyskinesia of PD mice, improve motor balance and coordination (P < 0.01), reduce the abnormal aggregation of α-syn (P < 0.01), reduce the abnormal activation of microglia, and alleviate neuroinflammation (P < 0.05). Conclusion Electro-acupuncture may play a protective role in PD by modulating FoXO1/NLRP3 pathway-mediated neuroinflammation.

Key words: Parkinson's disease, neuroinflammation, electro-acupuncture, forkhead box protein O1, NLRP3

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