1.Effects of Electrothermal Acupuncture on the HIF-1α/S1P/S1PR3 Pathway and Macrophage Polarization in Epididymal White Adipose Tissue of Obese Model Mice
Xiaobo GE ; Yuanyuan LI ; Jiangyan WEI ; Limin NIE ; Xin YANG ; Quan MIAO ; Mina WANG ; Yawei XI ; Luopeng ZHAO ; Yine SONG ; Xinru SUN ; Lu LIU ; Bin LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(20):2227-2235
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism underlying the weight loss effect of electrothermal acupuncture (ETA) in diet-induced obese (DIO) model mice based on the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 3 (S1PR3) signaling pathway-mediated macrophage polarization. MethodsAn obesity mouse model was established by continuously feeding at a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks. Twenty successfully modeled obese mice were randomly divided into a model group and an electrothermal acupuncture (ETA) group with 10 mice per group, both of which continued to receive the HFD till week 12. Another 10 mice were assigned to the normal group and fed a standard chow diet continuously for 12 weeks. Starting from week 9 of the experiment, mice in the ETA group received electrothermal acupuncture stimulation at Zhongwan (CV12), bilateral Tianshu (ST25), and bilateral Zusanli (ST36) for 30 minutes per session, with the instrument current set at (40±0.5)mA and a constant temperature of (40±0.5)℃. Mice in the normal group and the model group were restrained in the same manner for 30 minutes without acupuncture. All interventions were performed once every other day for a total of 4 weeks. Ten hours after the final intervention, the body weight, waist circumference, and body length of mice in each group were measured, and Lee's index was calculated. Serum biochemical analysis was performed to assess fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (Cr). Serum leptin (LEP) and adiponectin (ADPN) levels, as well as sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) levels in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT), were detected by ELISA. Histomorphological changes in eWAT were monitored via HE staining. Flow cytometry was used to analyze macrophage subtype-related indexes in eWAT, including the total proportion of macrophages, the proportion of M1 macrophages, the proportion of M2 macrophages, and the M1/M2 ratio. Antibody array technology was used to determine the levels of differentially expressed inflammatory factors in eWAT between the model and blank groups, as well as between the ETA and model groups. Western blot and qPCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression levels of HIF-1α and S1PR3 in the eWAT, respectively. ResultsCompared to the normal group, the model group showed significantly increased body weight, Lee's index, waist circumference, and FBG, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, AST, and ALT levels, upgraded LEP and S1P levels, decreased ADPN level and ADPN/LEP ratio, elevated proportion of M1 macrophages and the M1/M2 ratio, reduced proportion of M2 macrophages, and upregulated protein and mRNA expression levels of HIF-1α and S1PR3 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). With the exception of HDL-C, all the abovementioned indicators in the ETA group were significantly improved compared to the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Analysis of differentially expressed inflammatory cytokines revealed that, compared to the normal group, the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-12p70 (IL-12p70) in the eWAT of the model group were elevated; conversely, the levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17), interleukin-5 (IL-5), IL-6, and interleukin-23 (IL-23) in the eWAT of the ETA group decreased compared to the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionETA exerts a weight-reducing effect in obese model mice, and the mechanism may involve inhibition of the HIF-1α/S1P/S1PR3 signaling pathway activation, which shifts macrophage polarization from the M1 to M2 phenotype, thereby alleviating chronic inflammation.
2. Research progress of dynamic regulation of lysine acetylation in heart disease
Yuan ZHAO ; Qianwen NIE ; Jiangyan YIN ; Xuan HUAN ; Meixiang TIAN ; Zhengyi ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2021;26(10):1186-1192
Reversible post-translational modification of proteins is an important process in the physiological regulation of all tissues, including the heart. Lysine acetylation occurs in all organisms, including prokaryotes, and is regulated by a balance between lysine acetyltransferase (adding acetyl to the ε-amino group of lysine) and deacetylase (acetyl group that removes lysine ε-amino group). The heart is an organ rich in acetylated lysine, but the role of acetylated lysine in the heart remains to be elucidated. Therefore, in this paper, we systematically reviewed the gene list of acetyltransferase and deacetylase in mammalian genome and indicated their mRNA expression. The purpose of this study is to discover the research progress of dynamic regulation of lysine acetylation in heart disease and to provide a theoretical basis for the discovery of molecular targets.
3.Therapeutic Observation of Nerve-related Acupoints Electrical Stimulation in Preventing Urinary Retention After Hemorrhoid Surgery
Qian XU ; Hualing ZHOU ; Jiangyan NIE ; Weiqing HUANG
Shanghai Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion 2016;35(4):426-428
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of nerve-related acupoints electrical stimulation in preventing urinary retention after hemorrhoid surgery. Method Ninety-seven patients were randomized into two groups: the treatment group received nerve-related acupoints electrical stimulation 1 h after Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy for mixed hemorrhoids, while the control group was taken as a blank control. The incidence of postoperative urinary retention, residual urine volume after the first urination, general urinary condition score, and satisfaction evaluation were compared between the two groups. Result The incidence of postoperative urinary retention and residual urine volume after the first urinary were lower, and the general urination condition and satisfaction evaluation were higher in the treatment group compared to those in the control group. Conclusion Nerve-related acupoints electrical stimulation can prevent and reduce the adverse reactions such as urinary retention after hemorrhoidectomy, and it can effectively protect the bladder function and improve the prognosis.

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