| 24610411 |
Effects of acupuncture at Baihui (DU20) and Zusanli (ST36) on the expression of heat shock protein 70 and tumor necrosis factor alpha in the peripheral serum of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion-injured rats. |
Chin J Integr Med. 2014 May;20(5):369-74. doi: 10.1007/s11655-014-1800-z. Epub 2014 Mar 7. |
2014 May |
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of acupuncture on the peripheral serum expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI). METHODS: In total, 152 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into an operated group and a non-operated group according to a random digits table. The operated group included a sham-operated group, a model group and an acupuncture group, whereas the non-operated group consisted of a normal group. Except for the normal group, each group was further divided into 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 144 h time points according to different reperfusion times. Eight rats were assigned in each operated group and in the normal group. The rat model of CIRI was established by the thread occlusion method in the model and acupuncture groups. The acupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture at Baihui (DU20) and Zusanli (ST36) for the required time after successful operation. Blood was sampled to detect the HSP70 and TNF-alpha content by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The expression of HSP70 protein in the peripheral serum of the experimental groups was higher than that in the normal control group. The peak time in both the model and the sham-operated groups was 12 h, and the peak time in the acupuncture group was 24 h. The expression in the acupuncture group declined to a lower level at 72 h and was lower than that in the model and sham-operated groups (P<0.05). The peak time for the expression of TNF-alpha protein in the peripheral serum of both the model and the acupuncture groups was 24 h, but the expression in the acupuncture group was lower than the model group. Additionally, the expression of TNF-alpha in all experimental groups was higher than the normal group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture at DU20 and ST36 in rats attenuated CIRI, which was associated with a reduction in the expression of HSP70 and TNF-alpha. These results provide clues to acupuncture's neuroprotective properties. Acupuncture at DU20 and ST36 in rats after CIRI can adjust the expression of HSP70 and TNF-alpha in the peripheral serum, which might be one of the mechanisms of acupuncture's attenuation of CIRI."
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