针刺对慢性应激抑郁大鼠海马核转录因子kappa B信号通路的影响

Effect of Acupuncture Intervention on Expression of NF-κB Signal Pathway in the Hippocampus of Chronic Stress-induced Depression Rats

目的:观察针刺对慢性应激抑郁模型大鼠海马炎性反应信号通路中核转录因子kappa B(NF-κB)、环氧化酶-2(COX-2)、前列腺素E2(PGE2)表达的影响,探讨针刺抗抑郁的作用机制。方法:将SD大鼠随机分为正常组、模型组、针刺组、氟西汀组,每组9只。采用慢性不可预知应激结合孤养的方法建立抑郁模型。针刺组穴位选取"百会"和"内关",隔日针刺1次,共14次;氟西汀组给予氟西汀10mg/kg灌胃治疗,每日1次,共28次。采用蛋白印记法检测大鼠海马NF-κB的表达,酶联免疫吸附法检测海马COX-2、PGE2的含量。结果:与正常组比较,模型组大鼠海马NF-κB表达及COX-2、PGE2含量显著上升(P<0.01)。针刺和氟西汀治疗显著下调NF-κB、COX-2和PGE2(P<0.01,P<0.05),两个治疗组的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:针刺治疗可能通过抑制NF-κB信号通路,下调炎性反应因子表达,从而发挥抗炎作用,保护海马神经元,这可能是针刺治疗抑郁症的机制之一。

Objective To observe the influence of acupuncture intervention on the expression of pivotal pro-inflammatory molecules nuclear factor-κB（NF-κB）,cyclooxygenase-2（COX-2）,and prostaglandin E2（PGE2）of NF-κB inflammatory signal pathway in the hippocampus of depression rats,so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of depression.Methods Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups：control,model,acupuncture,and medication（fluoxetine,Flu）（n=9rats in each group）.The depression model was established by using chronic unpredictable stress stimuli combined with solitary feeding for 28 days.Acupuncture treatment was applied to＂Baihui＂（GV 20）and＂Neiguan＂（PC 6）once every other day for 28 days.Fluoxetine was given to rats of the medication group（10mg/kg）by gavage（p.o.）everyday for 28 days before the stress stimulation.The expression of NF-κB protein in the hippocampus tissue was detected by Western blot,and the contents of COX-2and PGE2 were detected by ELISA.Results Compared to the control group,the levels of NF-κB protein expression,COX-2and PGE2 contents in the hippocampus were significantly increased in the model group（P〈0.01）.Compared to the model group,the levels of NF-κB protein expression,COX-2and PGE2 contents in the hippocampus were significantly downregulated in both the acupuncture and medication groups（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）.There was no significant differences between the acupuncture and medication groups in the NF-κB protein expression,and COX-2and PGE2contents（P〉0.05）.ConclusionAcupuncture intervention can effectively reduce hippocampal NF-κB expression,and COX-2and PGE2 levels in depression rats,which may contribute to its anti-depressant effect by inhibiting pro-inflammatory pathway to protect the neurons of hippocampus.