Exploring the mechanism of acupotomy intervention on radicular inflammation in rabbit LDH model through ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1 pyroptosis pathway
10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2025.14.007
- VernacularTitle:基于ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1焦亡通路探讨针刀对LDH模型兔神经根炎性反应的作用机制
- Author:
Qiang JIANG
1
;
Yu DING
;
Zhili DING
;
Jiaheng HAN
Author Information
1. 解放军医学院(北京 100853);解放军总医院第六医学中心中医医学部骨伤科(北京 100048)
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
acupotomy;
lumbar disc herniation;
nerve root inflammatory response;
ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1 pyroptosis pathway;
mechanism
- From:
The Journal of Practical Medicine
2025;41(14):2167-2173
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the role of the ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1 pyroptosis signaling pathway in mediating the inflammatory response of nerve roots in a rabbit model of lumbar disc herniation(LDH)following acupotomy intervention.Methods Forty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to four groups:a blank control group(10 rabbits),a model control group(10 rabbits),an electroacupuncture intervention group(positive control group,10 rabbits),and an acupotomy intervention group(10 rabbits).The LDH nerve root inflammatory response model was established in the model control group,electroacupuncture intervention group,and acupotomy intervention group using the classical autologous nucleus pulposus transplantation method.Following successful model establishment,corresponding interventions were administered.Dorsal root ganglion tissues were then collected for analysis.Reactive oxygen species levels were assessed using fluorescent probe staining.The expression of NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins(NLRP3,ASC,GSDMD-N,and Caspase-1)was evaluated by Western blot.Mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening was assessed via Calcein AM staining.Results The comparison of relative fluorescence intensity of reactive oxygen species in dorsal root ganglion tissue among the groups indicated that the model control group exhibited significantly higher levels compared to the blank control group(P＜0.05).Both the electroacupuncture intervention group and the acupotomy intervention group demon-strated significantly lower levels than the model control group(P＜0.05).Western blot analysis revealed that the expression levels of NLRP3,ASC,GSDMD-N,and Caspase-1 in the model control group were significantly elevated compared to those in the blank control group(P＜0.05).Both intervention groups showed markedly reduced expression of these proteins compared to the model control group(P＜0.05).Additionally,the assessment of mito-chondrial permeability transition pore activity based on relative fluorescence intensity showed a significant increase in the model control group compared to the blank control group(P＜0.05),with both intervention groups exhibiting significantly lower levels than the model control group(P＜0.05).Conclusions Acupotomy therapy modulates the ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway,thereby inhibiting pyroptosis and attenuating the inflammatory response in nerve roots.This elucidates the potential molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of acupotomy on LDH through the regulation of ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1-mediated downstream signaling cascades.
