Study on Effect of Electroacupuncture on NLRP3 Inflammasome and Related Proteins in Conjunctiva of Dry Eye Rats
Objective Exploring the role of electroacupuncture in dry eye(DE)rats in terms of modulation of ocular surface function and NLRP3 inflammasome and related proteins in conjunctival tissue.Methods Thirty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups:the normal group,the model group,the electroacupuncture group,and the sham electroacupuncture group,with eight rats in each group.The DE model was developed by subcutaneous injection of scopolamine hydrobromide with exposure to an air draft in the latter four groups.After successful modeling,the electroacupuncture group took bilateral"Sizhukong"and"Fengchi"acupoints for electroacupuncture intervention once a day for 20 min each time.The sham electroacupuncture group took the same acupoints as the electroacupuncture group,and the acupoints were connected to the electroacupuncture needle but not electrified.The tear secretion and tear film breakup time of the rats were measured before and after the intervention for 7 days.The histopathological changes of conjunctiva tissues were observed.The changes in NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,and IL-18 protein expression in conjunctival tissue were detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the normal group,tear secretion and tear film rupture time were significantly reduced in the model group(P<0.05),and NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,and IL-18 protein expression in conjunctival tissues were elevated(P<0.05);compared with the model group,tear secretion and tear film rupture time in the electroacupuncture group were significantly elevated(P<0.05),and the protein expression of NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,and IL-18 in conjunctival tissues were all reduced(all P<0.01).The expression of IL-1β and IL-18 proteins in the electroacupuncture group was significantly lower than that in the sham electroacupuncture group(P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture improved the ocular surface function of DE rats and down-regulated the expression of the conjunctival NLRP3 inflammasome and downstream inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-18.Electroacupuncture may reduce ocular surface inflammation in DE rats by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway.
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