Bioengineering-Basel
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2024
·Vol. 11
·期 11
·1066
·
IF 3.8
Qianfu Zhang,Zhixuan Li,Sihan Zhou,Ji Li
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a significant cause of chronic pain and disability, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies. This study investigates the combined effect of a novel siCOL1A2-encapsulated hydrogel and acupuncture on IVDD in a rat model. We developed a hydrogel system, siCOL1A2-encapsulated G5-PBA hydrogel (siCOL1A2@G5-PBA@Gel), designed for sustained siRNA delivery to the degenerated discs and assessed its therapeutic efficacy alongside acupuncture treatment. Key inflammatory genes were identified through RNA-seq analysis, with COL1A2 highlighted as a crucial regulator of inflammatory responses in IVDD. Our in vivo experiments involved treating rats with hydrogel alone, acupuncture alone, and combining both. The treatments were evaluated through behavioral pain assessments, imaging techniques (X-ray and MRI), and histological analyses. Results indicated that the combination therapy significantly alleviated pain, reduced inflammation, and promoted disc regeneration more effectively than individual treatments. The hydrogel proved biocompatible and facilitated targeted gene silencing, while acupuncture enhanced therapeutic outcomes by improving local blood circulation and modulating inflammatory responses. These findings suggest that integrating siCOL1A2 hydrogel with acupuncture offers a promising approach to treating IVDD.
研究领域:
医学
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生物技术
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再生医学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
·
2024
·
IF 4.8
Chenlu Huo,Shuang Li,Anting Liu,Yujie Hong,Yan Zhu
It has been reported that the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be ameliorated by acupuncture, an external treatment of traditional Chinese medicine. However, the immune mechanism underlying its action is elusive. Accordingly, this study investigated the role and mechanism of manual acupuncture (MA) in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice. The results demonstrated that MA or NaB treatment reduced Articular Index scores and right paw thickness and alleviated synovial inflammation and cartilage damage. MA or NaB treatment altered the content and relative abundance of short-chain fatty acids, particularly butyric and propionic acids, in feces. Additionally, MA or NaB treatment elevated SCD1, SREBP1, and GPX4 protein expression in synovial tissues and GSH-px contents in serum while decreasing ROS fluorescence intensity and MDA contents in peripheral blood. A linear correlation was found between the relative expression of SCD1 and SREBP1 in synovial tissues and the contents of propionic acids and butyric acids in feces, as well as between the contents of propionic acids and butyric acids. In summary, MA regulates butyric acids to inhibit ferroptosis, therefore suppressing inflammation in RA.
研究领域:
免疫学
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风湿病学
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中医
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分子生物学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
MICROCHEMICAL JOURNAL
·
2023
·
IF 4.8
Qi Guo,Yuhao Zhang,Luting Yan,Xiaoya Meng,Yue Wang,Hongguo Zhai,Xiaofeng Chen,Xia Sun,Yemin Guo,Yanyan Zhang
The use of low-cost working electrodes is of great importance for the development of sensor industrialization. Acupuncture needles electrode (ANE) was selected as working microelectrode, a sensor was designed based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT: PSS) and chitosan (CS) modified covalent organic frameworks (COFs) (CS/COFs) for detection of cadmium (Cd(II)). First, a mixture of PEDOT and PSS was electrodeposited on the surface of the acupuncture needles to synthesize a PEDOT: PSS as conductive polymeric film to support the electron transfer capability and enhance the conductive efficiency of the sensor. Then, CS/COFs was self-assembled and attached to the PEDOT: PSS/ANE surface by π-π stacking intermolecular interaction forces and the viscosity of CS, thus increasing the specific surface area of the electrode. Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) was used as the electrochemical method for detection of Cd(II). And the results indicated that the CS/COFs/PEDOT: PSS/ANE was linearly responsive in the range of 400 μg/L to 2400 μg/L, and the LOD was 13.8 ng/L for Cd(II). The constructed sensor also showed great selectivity, reproducibility, and stability. Additionally, the sensor demonstrated outstanding recovery in the detection of Cd(II) in real sample scallops. This sensing construction method based on acupuncture needles as working electrodes is of great significance to the development of sensor industrialization and aquatic product safety detection.
研究领域:
分析化学
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环境科学
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食品安全检测
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DOI
高影响因子
TALANTA
·
2025
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IF 6.1
Jiameng Pei,Lina Tang,Chenyang Kang,Fan Shi,Fengxia Liang,Yutao Li,Guo-Jun Zhang
Acupuncture therapy reduces blood pressure in hypertensive patients by stimulating acupoints located at specific anatomical positions with needles. Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) release and accumulation in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) might be a pivotal step for triggering blood pressure reduction. But to date, the dynamics of H 2 S in the PVN during acupuncture treatment remain unclear. In this work, a multiple-nanomaterial-functionalized microneedle sensor is prepared for real-time monitoring of H 2 S in the PVN of rat while stimulated by electroacupuncture. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) and Ag 2 S were sequentially layered on the needle surface. The excellent electrical conductivity of AuNPs, the high carrier mobility of MoS 2 and the high catalytic performance of Ag 2 S ensure sensitive and specific detection of H 2 S in the range of 1 μM–100 μM with detection limit down to 95 nM. The microneedle sensor also demonstrates exceptional stability, remaining effective at room temperature for up to two weeks. Based on this, the microneedle sensor is used to monitor H 2 S release in vivo before and after acupuncture treatment. Our research indicates that acupuncture effectively increases H 2 S levels in the PVN of hypertensive rats, contributing to blood pressure reduction. This microneedle sensor provides a reliable method for monitoring H 2 S release in vivo, offering valuable insights into the role of H 2 S in the neurophysiology of hypertension and the mechanism of acupuncture in its treatment.
研究领域:
神经生理学
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生物传感技术
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中医药学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
NEUROMOLECULAR MEDICINE
·
2025
·Vol. 27
·期 1
·1-14
·
IF 3.9
Wang Yiming,Chen Yifei,Yang Jianbo,Sun Wei,Zhang Xiaoning
Post-stroke insomnia (PSI) is a common complication following stroke, which seriously affects patients’ life quality. Electro-acupuncture (EA) is an innovative form of traditional Chinese acupuncture that combines electricity with needles to achieve the prevention and treatment of diseases. However, there is limited understanding regarding the treatment mechanism of EA in PSI. In our study, we aimed to investigate the role of EA on PSI development. Our study findings indicated that the quality of sleep, levels of neurotransmitters 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (γ-GABA), and antioxidant levels showed significant improvement following EA treatment in PSI clinical samples and rat models, while the levels of pro-inflammatory factor interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and astrocyte damage were notably reduced. Furthermore, it was discovered that the levels of sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) were reduced in PSI, a condition that was significantly ameliorated by EA treatment. Additionally, the inhibition of Sirt1 caused a marked elevation in astrocyte apoptosis, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress. Besides, the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway was deactivated in the PSI rat model and Sirt1-silenced cells. However, the suppressive impact was successfully counteracted by EA or estazolam (ES), and the overexpression of Nrf2 partially alleviated the increase in apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress caused by Sirt1 knockdown. Taken together, these findings indicated that EA improved sleep quality and silenced Sirt1-induced apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in PSI by activating the Nrf2-ARE pathway.
研究领域:
神经科学
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中医学
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分子生物学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
·
2022
·
IF 2.989
Kun Zhang,Ran Liu,Yuan Gao,Wen Ma,Weidong Shen
Background Neuroinflammation is an important pathological mechanism of depression that leads to an increase in indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity and NMDAR activation. This study aimed to observe the effects of electroacupuncture on depression-like behaviour in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated rats and the underlying mechanism.Methods Wistar rats were intraperitoneally administered LPS (0.5 mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days to establish a depression model. Electroacupuncture treatment was administered 1 hour after daily LPS injection. The open field test (OFT), forced swimming test (FST), and sucrose preference test (SPT) were used to evaluate the depressive-like behaviours. IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); Trp, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), kynurenine (Kyn) and quinolinic acid (Quin) were detected by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) protein and mRNA were assessed by Western blot and real-time qPCR.Results The results showed that electroacupuncture treatment successfully corrected LPS-induced depressive-like behaviour, reduced the inflammatory factor (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) levels in the blood and hippocampus, prevented IDO over-activation and recovered NR2B expression after challenge by LPS.Conclusion Electroacupuncture treatment provided protection against LPS-induced depressive-like behaviour, and the associated mechanisms may be related to inhibiting the inflammatory response, regulating the IDO-mediated tryptophan-degrading pathway, and inhibiting NR2B activation.
研究领域:
神经科学
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药理学
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免疫学
·
行为科学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering Reviews
·
2023
·
IF 3.2
Yuan Li,Jiamin Zhu,Peng Sang,Yan Bai,Jinrong Lu,Hong Sun,Shun Wang
This study aims to study the effffects of Tiaoshen Changzhi acupuncture on behavior and striatum ΔFosB in rats with Levodopa-induced Dyskinesias (LIDs). In this experimental study, Levodopa-induced Dyskinesia (LID) rat models were established by 6-OHDA double-target injection and randomly assigned to six groups, with ten rats in each group. The rats were subjected to difffferent interventions for 28 days, and their behavior was observed. Additionally, the content of ΔFosB, a marker of neuronal activation, in the rat striatum was detected by immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR. In contrallateral rotation behavior experiment and AIM experiment, the score of the model group was significantly increased, compared with the model group, the score of the Western medicine group, the ordinary acupuncture group and the Tiaoshen Changzhi group was significantly decreased (P < 0.01), the score of the Western medicine group and the Tiaoshen Changzhi group was significantly lower than the ordinary acupuncture group (P < 0.01), there was no statistical significance between the Western medicine group and the Tiaoshen Changzhi group (P>0.05). In the left forelimb function test, the score of the model group was significantly decreased, and compared with the model group, the left forelimb function score of the Western medicine group, the ordinary acupuncture group and the Tiaoshen Changzhi group were significantly increased (P < 0.01). The left forelimb function score of the Western medicine group and the Tiaoshen Changzhi group was higher than the ordinary acupuncture group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical significance between Western medicine group and Tiaoshen Changzhi group (P > 0.05). After treatment, the content of ΔFosB in the striatum of the Western medicine group, the ordinary acupuncture group and the Tiaoshen Changzhi acupuncture group all decreased, the Western medicine group was better than the ordinary acupuncture group (P < 0.01), and the Tiaoshen Changzhi acupuncture group was better than the ordinary acupuncture group (P < 0.05). Tiaoshen Changzhi acupuncture can improve the behavioral performance of LID rats, reduce abnormal involuntary movement and contralateral rotation behavior and enhance the motor function of the left forelimb of rats. One of its therapeutic mechanisms for LID may be to reduce the expression level of ΔFosB in the striatum of LID rats, thereby reducing the symptoms of LID rats.
研究领域:
神经科学
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针灸
·
药理学
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行为科学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
·
2025
·Vol. 76
·期 1
·4
·
IF 2.7
Wu Zhixuan,Wang Dianyi,Yao Jing,Zhang Yue,Liu Jiayu
Background Migraine is a complex neurological disorder. While acupuncture is effective in alleviating migraines, its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to explore these mechanisms. Methods We used bioinformatics to identify differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in migraine patients after acupuncture. Subsequently, luciferase reporter assays were utilized to verify the interaction between miRNAs and their regulated target gene mRNAs. RT-qPCR and Western blot analyzed key miRNAs’ regulatory effects on target genes. We also employed Transwell migration assays and a nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced migraine mouse model to systematically evaluate acupuncture’s efficacy and mechanism. Results Bioinformatics analysis revealed a significant upregulation of Hsa-miR-550a-3-5p in the peripheral blood of migraine patients after acupuncture treatment. Hsa-miR-550a-3-5p could directly inhibit the mRNA and protein expression of platelet and endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM1), reducing nitroglycerin-induced human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs). Following the downregulation of PECAM1 by hsa-miR-550a-3-5p, the transendothelial migration capacity of monocytes-macrophages was significantly reduced, and reducing the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Furthermore, it alleviates inflammation by regulating M2 macrophage polarization. In NTG-induced mice, acupuncture relieved migraine-like behaviors, an effect abolished by a miR-550a-3-5p inhibitor. Conclusion This study is the first to reveal that after acupuncture treatment, hsa-miR-550a-3-5p can be upregulated to target and inhibit PECAM1, reducing the transendothelial migration of inflammatory cells and the release of inflammatory cytokines, thereby alleviating migraine symptoms. This discovery provides scientific evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture and offers a new target for developing miRNA-based precision treatment strategies.
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
·
2023
·
IF 6.2
Hongying Liu,Cairui Zhang,Chenwei Wang,Kai Fan,Yuqing Zhang,Lu Fang,Lihua Li,Chaoxiang Ren,Zheng-Zhi Yin,Zhong Lü
Promethazine (PMZ) is an effective antihistamine that is used as a nerve tranquilizer to treat mental disorders. However, drug abuse causes harm to the human body and also pollutes the environment to a certain extent. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a highly selective and sensitive biosensor for PMZ determination. An acupuncture needle (AN) was used as an electrode in 2015, and further research on the electrode's essence in electrochemistry is needed. In this work, a sensor based on a surface imprinted film coordinated Au/Sn biometal was first fabricated on AN via electrochemistry. The obtained cavities showed complementary and suitable sites for “N atom” electron transfer through the phenyl ring structure in promethazine, which is rigorous for the configuration near the interface. Under the optimal conditions, MIP/Au/Sn/ANE exhibits a good linear relationship in the range of 0.5 μM–500 μM, and the detection limit (LOD) is 0.14 μM (S/N = 3). The sensor exhibits good repeatability, stability, and selectivity and can be successfully used to analyze and detect PMZ in human serum and environmental water. The findings are scientifically significant for AN electrochemistry and the sensors have potential for in vivo medicamentosus monitoring in the future.
研究领域:
分析化学
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生物传感
·
环境科学
·
药物检测
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Scientific Reports
·
2016
·Vol. 6
·期 1
·1-8
·
IF 5.228
Li Yu-Tao,Tang Li-Na,Ning Yong,Shu Qing,Liang Feng-Xia,Wang Hua,Zhang Guo-Jun
Acupuncture treatment is amazing but controversial. Up to now, the mechanism of treating diseases by acupuncture and moxibustion is still unclear, especially the occurrence of the molecular events in local acupoints. Herein, we report an extremely stable microsensor by modifying carbon nanotube (CNT) to the tip surface of acupuncture needle and applying this CNT-modified acupuncture needle for real time monitoring of serotonin (5-HT) in vivo . To stabilize CNT modification on the needle tip surface, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)(PEDOT) was employed as glue water to stick CNT on the needle. The detection limit of the CNT-modified needle was found to be approximately 50 nM and 78 nM in the PBS and the cell medium, respectively. In addition, the needle showed good selectivity to some inflammatory mediators and some electroactive molecules. For the first time, the CNT-modified needle could be directly probed into rat body for real time monitoring of 5-HT in vivo , showing a great potential for better understanding the mechanism of acupuncture treatment.
研究领域:
生物医学工程
·
神经科学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
·
2022
·
IF 7.336
Shanshan Zhan,Caihong Xu,Jiandan Chen,Qi Xiao,Zhenzeng Zhou,Zhiyuan Xing,Chunchuan Gu,Zhengzhi Yin,Hongying Liu
Epinephrine (EP) is an important neurotransmitter that plays a vital role in mammalian central nervous and hormone systems. So, the monitoring of EP is significant to evaluate human health. Until now, developing new methods for detecting EP has attracted increasing interest to avoid the previous disadvantages, such as high cost, long time-consuming, and professional operation. Acupuncture is a kind of traditional Chinese treatment. Herein, stainless steel needle, an acupuncture tool, was used as an electrochemical matrix and functionalized to be a simple, effective sensor for detecting EP. The acupuncture needle showed a typical electrochemical behavior. Gold nanoparticles coordinated polydopamine-modified acupuncture needle (AuNPs/PDA/AN) was fabricated via the green route of pure electron-transfer induced reaction of electrodepositing. The covered interface exhibited synergistic response performance to EP. The electron transfer of the phenolic hydroxyl group in EP molecular was enhanced via the superficial active site, showing the notable current peak. The generated current intensity can be used as an index to reflect the corresponding concentration. Under the optimized conditions, the fabricated biosensor expressed a wide and good linear relationship from 1 μM to 1000 μM, and a detection limit of 0.26 μM, which are competitive with former relative reports. In practical application, the fabricated sensor has been effectively used to analyze EP in real human serum, and also realized the real-time detection of EP secreted by PC12 cells irritated by salbutamol. The sensor was found to perform high selectivity , stability, and reproducibility, which is promising in the future given the advantages of electrochemical sensors , including low price, fast response, and simple operation.
研究领域:
生物医学工程
·
分析化学
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产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
·
2011
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IF 5.874
Jian Dong,Qingfeng Chen,Chunhui Rong,Danyang Li,Yanying Rao
To obtain depth profiles of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) information in living systems, a SERS-active needle was structured by acupuncture needles, gold nanoshells (GNSs), and polystyrene, which were used as carriers, SERS-active elements to be absorbed on the carriers, and coatings to protect the absorbed GNSs from being erased during insertion, respectively. The SERS-active needle is minimally invasive for entering and exiting the body. The interspaces between the GNSs became vessels to collect diffused fluids at different depths after a SERS-active needle was inserted into an agarose gel, and the SERS intensity profile on the SERS-active needle coincided with the concentration profile of Nile Blue A (NBA) in the gel. SERS detection in vitro avoided the signal attenuation in gels, and the SERS detection at different spots of the SERS-active needle provided a depth profile of the NBA molecule in the gel. In vivo experiments of NBA and 6-mercaptopurine confirmed that the SERS-active needle could collect fluids in living systems easily with minimal invasion and provide information about depth profiles of target molecules in tissues.
研究领域:
生物医学工程
·
分析化学
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
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