| Evidence Sentence: |
Electroacupuncture Could Influence the Expression of IL-1beta and NLRP3 Inflammasome in Hippocampus of Alzheimer's Disease Animal Model |
| Evidence Sentence: |
According to recent studies of AD mechanisms, the NLRP3 inflammasome regulated the expression of IL-1beta in the brain which may mediate AD related processes. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
DU20, DU26, and EX-HN3 were selected as the acupuncture points, and after a 15-day treatment of electroacupuncture, we used immunohistochemistry and Western blotting to examine the expression of IL-1beta and NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 in the hippocampus of the AD animal model. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Compared with N group, IL-1beta, NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 positive cells in AD group were increased, and the relative expression of all above proteins significantly increased (P < 0.01). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Compared with AD group, the expression of IL-1beta, NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 in EA group was significantly decreased (P < 0.01). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
What is more, the possible mechanism of electroacupuncture reduced the expression of IL-1beta and NLRP3 inflammasome relative protein. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Expression of IL-1beta and NLRP3 Related Proteins in Hippocampus: Seeing from Immunohistochemistry |
| Evidence Sentence: |
In the immunohistochemical results (Figure 1), the number of positive cells expressing IL-1beta protein in hippocampus of mice in N group was low, and occasional positive cells were also lighter in staining. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Compared with N group, the number of IL-1beta protein positive cells in the same field of view of the hippocampus of the AD group was significantly higher (highlighted by red arrows). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Compared with AD group, the number of IL-1beta positive cells in the same field of view of the EA group was reduced and the staining was lighter (highlighted by blue arrows). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Interestingly, these proteins were associated with the expression of IL-1beta. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Expression of IL-1beta and NLRP3 Related Proteins in Hippocampus from Western Blots |
| Evidence Sentence: |
In the Western blot results (Figure 2), the relative expression of IL-1beta and NLRP3 related proteins were obtained by comparing the gray value of each sample with beta-actin, which was set as the internal reference. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Compared with N group, the expression of IL-1beta protein in the hippocampus of the other two groups was significantly higher than that of N group (AD group: P < 0.01; EA group: P < 0.01). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Compared with AD group, the expression of IL-1beta protein in the hippocampus of the EA group was significantly decreased (P < 0.01, Figure 2(a)). |
