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Electroacupuncture improves apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells via the IL-22/JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathway in a rat model of cervical intervertebral disk degeneration.
- Source :
- Acupuncture in Medicine; Jun2024, Vol. 42 Issue 3, p146-154, 9p
- Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Background: Cervical spondylosis (CS) is a prevalent disorder that can have a major negative impact on quality of life. Traditional conservative treatment has limited efficacy, and electroacupuncture (EA) is a novel treatment option. We investigated the application and molecular mechanism of EA treatment in a rat model of cervical intervertebral disk degeneration (CIDD). Methods: The CIDD rat model was established, following which rats in the electroacupuncture (EA) group received EA. For overexpression of IL-22 or inhibition of JAK2-STAT3 signaling, the rats were injected intraperitoneally with recombinant IL-22 protein (p-IL-22) or the JAK2-STAT3 (Janus kinase 2—signal transducer and activator of transcription protein 3) inhibitor AG490 after model establishment. Rat nucleus pulposus (NP) cells were isolated and cultured. Cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry were used to analyze the viability and apoptosis of the NP cells. Expression of IL-22, JAK2 and STAT3 was determined using RT-qPCR. Expression of IL-22/JAK2-STAT3 pathway and apoptosis related proteins was detected by Western blotting (WB). Results: EA protected the NP tissues of CIDD rats by regulating the IL-22/JAK2-STAT3 pathway. Overexpression of IL-22 significantly promoted the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6, IL-1β, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)3 and MMP13 compared with the EA group. WB demonstrated that the expression of IL-22, p-JAK2, p-STAT3, caspase-3 and Bax in NP cells of the EA group was significantly reduced and Bcl-2 elevated compared with the model group. EA regulated cytokines and MMP through activation of IL-22/JAK2-STAT3 signaling in CIDD rat NP cells. Conclusion: We demonstrated that EA affected apoptosis by regulating the IL-22/JAK2-STAT3 pathway in NP cells and reducing inflammatory factors in the CIDD rat model. The results extend our knowledge of the mechanisms of action underlying the effects of EA as a potential treatment approach for CS in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- FLOW cytometry
INTRAPERITONEAL injections
RESEARCH funding
APOPTOSIS
CELLULAR signal transduction
TRANSCRIPTION factors
REVERSE transcriptase polymerase chain reaction
ELECTROACUPUNCTURE
JANUS kinases
RATS
CELL nuclei
INTERVERTEBRAL disk
ANIMAL experimentation
RECOMBINANT proteins
WESTERN immunoblotting
MATRIX metalloproteinases
STAT proteins
CERVICAL vertebrae
CYTOKINES
INTERLEUKINS
SPINE diseases
TUMOR necrosis factors
CASPASES
B cell lymphoma
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09645284
- Volume :
- 42
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Acupuncture in Medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 177759587
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/09645284241248465