{"title":"Electroacupuncture regulates ferroptosis to improve postoperative cognitive dysfunction in mice through mediating GRX1/GSK-3β/Nrf2 axis","authors":"Xiaqing Zhang, Afen Zhang, Rui Li, Mingna Jiao, Rou Wen, Rongzhi Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.brainresbull.2025.111234","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is higher happening in the elderly. It has been reported electroacupuncture (EA) was beneficial to the treatment of POCD, but its specific regulatory mechanism is still unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Through partial hepatectomy in mice, POCD model of mice was established. Baihui acupoint (GV20) was selected for targeted point of EA therapy. Morris water maze (MWM) was applied to evaluate cognitive impairment of mice. HE staining was used to examine cell arrangement and cell morphology in hippocampus of mice. RT-qPCR, western blot and IHC were employed to detect abundance of genes and proteins. MDA, GSH and iron levels was measured by some commercial kits.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Our findings revealed that partial hepatectomy surgery impaired learning and memory ability of mice, promoted ferroptosis. inhibited GRX1 and inactivated GSK-3β/Nrf2 pathway. However, EA therapy abolished these effects. In addition, GRX1 silencing and erastin abolished EA-mediated alterations of improving POCD in mice.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>EA suppressed ferroptosis by regulating GRX1/GSK-3β/Nrf2 pathway to improve postoperative cognitive dysfunction of POCD mice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9302,"journal":{"name":"Brain Research Bulletin","volume":"222 ","pages":"Article 111234"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Brain Research Bulletin","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361923025000462","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"NEUROSCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
Electroacupuncture regulates ferroptosis to improve postoperative cognitive dysfunction in mice through mediating GRX1/GSK-3β/Nrf2 axis
Background
The incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is higher happening in the elderly. It has been reported electroacupuncture (EA) was beneficial to the treatment of POCD, but its specific regulatory mechanism is still unclear.
Methods
Through partial hepatectomy in mice, POCD model of mice was established. Baihui acupoint (GV20) was selected for targeted point of EA therapy. Morris water maze (MWM) was applied to evaluate cognitive impairment of mice. HE staining was used to examine cell arrangement and cell morphology in hippocampus of mice. RT-qPCR, western blot and IHC were employed to detect abundance of genes and proteins. MDA, GSH and iron levels was measured by some commercial kits.
Results
Our findings revealed that partial hepatectomy surgery impaired learning and memory ability of mice, promoted ferroptosis. inhibited GRX1 and inactivated GSK-3β/Nrf2 pathway. However, EA therapy abolished these effects. In addition, GRX1 silencing and erastin abolished EA-mediated alterations of improving POCD in mice.
Conclusion
EA suppressed ferroptosis by regulating GRX1/GSK-3β/Nrf2 pathway to improve postoperative cognitive dysfunction of POCD mice.
期刊介绍:
The Brain Research Bulletin (BRB) aims to publish novel work that advances our knowledge of molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie neural network properties associated with behavior, cognition and other brain functions during neurodevelopment and in the adult. Although clinical research is out of the Journal''s scope, the BRB also aims to publish translation research that provides insight into biological mechanisms and processes associated with neurodegeneration mechanisms, neurological diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders. The Journal is especially interested in research using novel methodologies, such as optogenetics, multielectrode array recordings and life imaging in wild-type and genetically-modified animal models, with the goal to advance our understanding of how neurons, glia and networks function in vivo.