Eye acupuncture improves neural function in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by promoting angiogenesis via upregulating METTL3-mediated m6A methylation.
10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2025.05.04
- Author:
Yanpeng PU
1
;
Zhen WANG
2
;
Haoran CHU
3
Author Information
1. Anhui University of Chinese Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Hefei 230000, China.
2. Department of Encephalopathy.
3. Famous Doctor Hall, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230000, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
HIF-1α/VEGF-A signaling axis;
angiogenesis;
cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury;
eye acupuncture;
m 6 A methylation modification
- MeSH:
Animals;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley;
Methyltransferases/metabolism*;
Reperfusion Injury/physiopathology*;
Methylation;
Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism*;
Rats;
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism*;
Brain Ischemia/metabolism*;
Acupuncture Therapy;
Male;
Up-Regulation;
Neovascularization, Physiologic;
Angiogenesis;
Adenosine/analogs & derivatives*
- From:
Journal of Southern Medical University
2025;45(5):921-928
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES:To evaluate the effect of eye acupuncture on neural function and angiogenesis of ischemic cerebral tissue in rats, and explore the roles of METTL3-mediated m6A methylation and the HIF-1α/VEGF-A signal axis in mediating this effect.
METHODS:Fifty SD rats were randomized into normal control group, sham-operated group, model group, eye acupuncture group and DMOG (a HIF-1α agonist) group. Rat models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI) were established using a modified thread thrombus method, and the changes in neurological deficits of the rats after interventions were evaluated. TTC and Nissl staining were used to examine the changes in infarction size and neuronal injury, and cerebral angiogenesis was detected by double-immunofluorescence staining. m6A methylation modification level in the brain tissue was detected by ELISA, and RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of METTL3 and HIF-1α/VEGF-A.
RESULTS:Compared with the control and sham-operated rats, the CIRI rats had significantly higher neurological deficit scores with larger cerebral infarction area, a greater number of CD31- and EDU-positive new vessels, higher expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGF-A, reduced number of Nissl bodies and m6A methylation level, and lowered METTL3 protein and mRNA expressions. All these changes were significantly improved by interventions with eye acupuncture after modeling or intraperitoneal injections of DMOG for 7 consecutive days prior to modeling, and the effects of the two interventions were similar.
CONCLUSIONS:Eye acupuncture can improve neurological deficits in CIRI rat models possibly by promoting cortical angiogenesis via upregulating METTL3-mediated m6A methylation and regulating the HIF-1α/VEGF-A signal axis.
