Electroacupuncture affects microglia-mediated postherpetic neuralgia via the cGAS-STING pathway
10.12007/j.issn.0258-4646.2025.03.004
- VernacularTitle:电针通过cGAS-STING通路影响小胶质细胞介导的带状疱疹后神经痛
- Author:
Huan XIN
1
;
Jing ZOU
1
;
Wei LE
1
Author Information
1. 武汉市第一医院针灸科,武汉 430022
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
electroacupuncture;
cyclic GMP-AMP synthase;
stimulator of interferon gene;
microglia;
postherpetic neuralgia
- From:
Journal of China Medical University
2025;54(3):208-213,218
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To explore the mechanism by which electroacupuncture(EA)affects postherpetic neuralgia(PHN)through the cyclic cGMP-AMP synthase(cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes(STING)pathway in microglia-mediated processes.Methods Fifty rats were randomly divided into the following groups,with 10 rats in each group:Vehicle group,resiniferatoxin(RTX)group,RTX+EA group,RTX+cGAS inhibitor(RU.521)group,and RTX+STING inhibitor(C-176)group.Behavioral assessments were conducted on rats in each group using the hot plate test,inclined plane test,tail suspension test,and mechanical withdrawal threshold test.The ELISA method was used to detect the levels of substance P(SP),neurokinin 1(NK-1),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),interleukin-10(IL-10),and arginase 1(Arg1).TUNEL staining was used to detect cell apoptosis,and immunofluores-cence staining was used to detect the levels of Iba1,cGAS,and STING in the spinal dorsal horn tissues.Furthermore,Western blotting was used to detect the expression of cGAS-STING pathway-related factors.Results Compared with the Vehicle group,rats in the RTX group exhibited increased anxious behavior,decreased motor function,exacerbated depression,and reduced mechanical withdrawal thresholds.Additionally,there was an increase in the levels of pain-related neurotransmitters,enhanced cellular apoptosis,activation and M1 polar-ization of microglia in the spinal dorsal horn tissue,and activation of the cGAS-STING pathway.EA or cGAS-STING inhibitors partially reversed the above results and induced M2 polarization of microglia(all P＜0.05).Conclusion EA may exert therapeutic effects on PHN by inhibiting the cGAS-STING pathway in microglia.
