Electroacupuncture ameliorates intestinal inflammation by activating α7nAChR-mediated JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in postoperative ileus.
Kristen Sparrow • September 10, 2021
acupuncture/electroacupuncture can suppress inflammation. It does this by harnessing the immune system feedbacks. One of which involves vagal stimulation
I’m working on my chapter for my writing project on Inflammation, and this study came across the transom.
I fully realize that this is a jargon heavy topic. The point of posting it, is to show that acupuncture/electroacupuncture can suppress inflammation. It does this by harnessing the immune system feedbacks. One of which involves vagal stimulation, something that I’ve been measuring in the clinic longer than I would care to divulge.
The science is getting closer to being able to pinpoint the steps in animals, and then be able to do some studies in humans too. My hope is that eventually, there will be easier ways to deliver acupuncture for the ease of patients.
EA suppressed intestinal inflammation and promoted gastrointestinal motility. Mechanistically, EA activated the α7nAChR-mediated JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in macrophages which reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, we also demonstrated that hindlimb region stimulation drove vagal efferent output by inhibiting the expression of GABAA receptor in DMV to ameliorate inflammation.
Abstract
Inflammatory cytokines produced by muscularis macrophages largely contribute to the pathological signs of postoperative ileus (POI). Electroacupuncture (EA) can suppress inflammation, mainly or partly via activation of vagal efferent. The goal of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which EA stimulation at an hindlimb region ameliorates inflammation in POI. Methods: Intestinal motility and inflammation were examined after 24 h after intestinal manipulation (IM)-induced POI in mice. Local immune response in the intestinal muscularis, expression of macrophages, α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR), Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) were determined by flow cytometry, Western Blot, qPCR and immunofluorescence. The effects of α7nAChR antagonists (methyllycaconitine and α-bungarotoxin) and JAK2/STAT3 inhibitors (AG490 and WP1066) were also administered in a subset of mice prior to EA. In the parasympathetic pathways, intestinal motility and inflammation were determined after cervical vagotomy and sub-diaphragmatic vagotomy. The expression of gamma absorptiometry aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor in dorsal motor nucleus of vagal (DMV) cholinergic neurons was assessed by immunofluorescence and the response to DMV microinjection of bicuculine (antagonist of GABAA receptor) or muscimol (agonist of GABAA receptor) were assessed. Results: EA suppressed intestinal inflammation and promoted gastrointestinal motility. Mechanistically, EA activated the α7nAChR-mediated JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in macrophages which reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, we also demonstrated that hindlimb region stimulation drove vagal efferent output by inhibiting the expression of GABAA receptor in DMV to ameliorate inflammation. Conclusions: The present study revealed that EA of hindlimb regions inhibited the expression of GABAA receptor in DMV neurons, whose excited vagal nerve, in turn suppressed IM-induced inflammation via activation of α7nAChR-mediated JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.
Keywords: GABAA receptor; JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway; gastrointestinal motility; macrophages; α7nAChR.
