Mechanism Research of Electroacupuncture Stimulation at Baihui and Zusanli in Cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion Injury Using RNA-Sequencing

Background

Electroacupuncture (EA) therapy, as a combination of electric stimulation and traditional acupuncture technology, is currently an important mean for treatment of ischemic stroke and post-stroke rehabilitation in China. Because of its remarkable therapeutic effect, it has been widely used in hospitals and clinic, however, the detailed mechanism remains unclear.

Objective

This research aims to comprehensively and systematically elucidate the mechanisms of EA treatment at the acupoints of Zusanli (ST36) and Baihui (GV20) on ischemic stroke.

Methods

In this study, EA was performed twice at onset of reperfusion and 20 h after reperfusion following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats, and transcriptomic changes of various molecules in ischemic hippocampal neurons of rats in Sham, I/R and EA groups were detected by RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq).

Results

Thus, we detected 18 significantly different genes related to atherosclerosis (AS), with their functions associated with lipid metabolism, thrombosis, monocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells. And, we detected 10 significantly different genes related to oxidative stress and apoptosis and 10 significantly different genes related to calcium overload and excitatory amino acids release. Also, we detected 19 significantly different genes related to blood-brain barrier (BBB) and 22 significantly different genes related to inflammatory response.

Conclusion

In conclusion, EA can play a role in treating ischemic stroke through a variety of mechanisms, affecting atherosclerosis, oxidative stress, apoptosis, calcium overload, excitatory amino acids release, blood-brain barrier (BBB) and inflammatory response.