مستخلص: |
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, FoXOl, 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |