Adenosine as a probing tool for the mechanistic study of acupuncture treatment

Abstract

To date, acupuncture has been widely used despite a lack of solid clinical evidence in the East and West. However, there are few validated in vitro models for the mechanistic studies of acupuncture. We hypothesized that adenosine could be used as a probing tool in the mechanistic studies of acupuncture because of its critical role in the action of acupuncture. Subsequently, we tested this hypothesis using both in vitro and in vivo experiments. First, we found that adenosine stimulation mimicked the effect of acupuncture on microRNA profiling (including miR-339, miR-145 and miR-451) and protein level (including Sirt2) in nerve growth factor-induced differentiated PC12 cells. These miRNA and proteins have been found to be regulated by acupuncture treatment in the brain of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Next, we found that adenosine stimulation downregulated miR-339 expression through adenosine A1 receptor-mediated pathway. Finally, we showed that the concentration of adenosine was actually decreased in the brain of spontaneously hypertensive rats after acupuncture treatment at Taichong acupoint. Taken together, these findings suggest that adenosine could be used as a useful probing tool for acupuncture mechanistic studies, while more validation studies are certainly warranted.

Adenosine as a Multi-Signalling Guardian Angel in Human Diseases: When, Where and How Does it Exert its Protective Effects?

“…Interestingly, recent studies demonstrated a role for A 1 receptors in the mediation of the antinociceptive effect of acupuncture, whose analgesic effect has been replicated by direct injection of an A 1 receptor agonist [66,67]. In particular, A 1 activation has been shown to mimic the effect of acupuncture on miRNA profiling and protein levels [68].…”

TRPV1 is a Responding Channel for Acupuncture Manipulation in Mice Peripheral and Central Nerve System

“…Thus, EA can alter the expression of NR1 and TRPV1 in hippocampal CA1 areas in middle cerebral artery occlusion rats [27]. In addition, EA can inhibit long-term potentiation in the SC dorsal horn of rats after nerve injury [28]. We found that pNR1 but not pNR2B was significantly activated by both MA and different frequencies of EA.…”

MicroRNA in Acupuncture Studies: Does Small RNA Shed Light on the Biological Mechanism of Acupuncture?

“…Spontaneously hypertensive rats were used and acupuncture at acupoint LR3 was given to each rat. The result confirmed that adenosine stimulation mimicked the effects of acupuncture and miR-339, miR-223, miR-145 expressions were upregulated in the brain [35]. Acupuncture treatment at nonacupoint was also performed within the same group, and the result showed that increased expression of the miRNAs by acupuncture at acupoint LR3 had not occurred at nonacupoint [36].…”