Effect of moxibustion on autophagy in mice with Alzheimer's disease based on mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway.
10.13703/j.0255-2930.20210705-k0004
- Author:
Yang-Yang WU
1
;
Xiao-Ge SONG
2
;
Cai-Feng ZHU
3
;
Sheng-Chao CAI
3
;
Xia GE
4
;
Ling WANG
1
;
Yu-Mei JIA
1
Author Information
1. Graduate School of Anhui University of CM, Hefei 230038, China.
2. Institute of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Meridians, Anhui University of CM.
3. Department of Geriatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of CM, Hefei 230061.
4. Department of Endocrinology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of CM, Hefei 230061.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
APP/PS1 double transgenic AD mice;
Alzheimer's disease (AD);
amyloid β-peptide protein;
autophagy;
mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway;
moxibustion
- MeSH:
Alzheimer Disease/therapy*;
Amyloid beta-Peptides/genetics*;
Animals;
Autophagy;
Disease Models, Animal;
Hippocampus/metabolism*;
Mammals/metabolism*;
Mice;
Mice, Inbred C57BL;
Mice, Transgenic;
Moxibustion;
Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa/pharmacology*;
Signal Transduction;
Sirolimus/pharmacology*;
TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*
- From:
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion
2022;42(9):1011-1016
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of moxibustion on autophagy and amyloid β-peptide1-42 (Aβ1-42) protein expression in amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) double-transgenic mice with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
METHODS:After 2-month adaptive feeding, fifty-six 6-month-old APP/PS1 double transgenic AD mice were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group, a rapamycin group and an inhibitor group, 14 mice in each group. Another 14 C57BL/6J mice with the same age were used as a normal group. The mice in the moxibustion group were treated with monkshood cake-separated moxibustion at "Baihui"(GV 20), "Fengfu" (GV 16) and "Dazhui" (GV 14) for 20 min; the mice in the rapamycin group were intraperitoneally injected with rapamycin (2 mg/kg); the mice in the inhibitor group were treated with moxibustion and injection of 1.5 mg/kg 3-methyladenine (3-MA). All the treatments were given once a day for consecutive 2 weeks. The morphology of hippocampal tissue was observed by HE staining; the ultrastructure of hippocampal tissue was observed by transmission electron microscopy; the expression of Aβ1-42 protein in frontal cortex and hippocampal tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry; the expressions of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR), p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) and phosphorylated p70S6K (p-p70S6K) protein in hippocampus were detected by Western blot method.
RESULTS:Compared with the normal group, the number of neuron cells was decreased, cells were necrotic and deformed, and autophagy vesicle and lysosome were decreased in the model group. Compared with the model group, the number of neuron cells was increased, cell necrosis was decreased, and autophagy vesicle and lysosome were increased in the moxibustion group and the rapamycin group. Compared with the normal group, the protein expressions of Aβ1-42, mTOR, p-mTOR, p70S6K and p-p70S6K in the model group were increased (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the protein expressions of Aβ1-42, mTOR, p-mTOR, p70S6K and p-p70S6K in the moxibustion group, rapamycin group and inhibitor group were decreased (P<0.05); compared with the inhibitor group, the protein expressions of Aβ1-42, mTOR, p-mTOR, p70S6K and p-p70S6K in the moxibustion group and rapamycin group were decreased (P<0.05); compared with the rapamycin group, the protein expressions of mTOR, p-mTOR, p70S6K and p-p70S6K in the moxibustion group were decreased (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION:Moxibustion could enhance autophagy in hippocampal tissue of APP/PS1 double transgenic AD mice and reduce abnormal Aβ aggregation in brain tissue, the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway.
