Effects of electroacupuncture of different intensities and durations on NLRP3 and inflammatory cytokines in the liver of rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture(EA)of different intensities and durations on nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)and inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and interleukin-18(IL-18)in the liver of rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and discuss the potential mechanism.Method Male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats of SPF degree were randomized into a control group and a modeling group.After 5-week high-fat feeding,rats in the modeling group were randomly allocated into a model group,a sham EA group,EA group 1,and EA group 2,with 15 rats in each group;each group was further divided into 3 sub-groups(5 rats in each group)based on the intervention time(2,3,and 4 weeks).Bilateral Fenglong(ST40)and Zusanli(ST36)were selected for EA intervention in EA group 1 and EA group 2,and the current intensity was 4 mA and 2 mA,respectively.At each time point,quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR)was used to detect the mRNA expression of NLRP3,IL-1β,and IL-18 in the liver of each group of rats,Western blot(WB)was adopted to determine the protein expression of IL-1β and IL-18 in the liver,and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of NLRP3 positive cells in the liver.Result Compared to the control group,the mRNA and protein expression levels of NLRP3,IL-1β,and IL-18 increased significantly in the liver of rats in the model group(P＜0.01).Compared to the model and sham EA groups,the mRNA and protein expression levels of liver NLRP3,IL-1β,and IL-18 dropped in EA group 1 and EA group 2 after intervention weeks 2,3,and 4,respectively(P＜0.05).Compared to EA group 1,the mRNA and protein expression levels of liver NLRP3,IL-1β,and IL-18 increased in EA group 2 after intervention weeks 2,3,and 4,respectively(P＜0.05).Intra-group comparisons among different time points showed that the lowest mRNA and protein expression levels of liver NLRP3,IL-1β,and IL-18 were found after intervention week 4 in EA group 1(P＜0.05).Conclusion Different intensities and durations can affect the efficacy of EA in intervening NAFLD rats,and EA with a current intensity of 4 mA for 4 weeks should be optimal;the mechanism may be associated with inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome,reducing inflammatory cytokines,and suppressing inflammatory responses.
Acupuncture therapyElectroacupunctureNon-alcoholic fatty liver diseaseNucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3Interleukin-1βInterleukin-18Rats
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维普
