Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

Differential proteomics analysis of the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture intervention in the hippocampus following neuropathic pain in rats

Authors: Yong-Hui Gao, Shu-Ping Chen, Jun-Ying Wang, Li-Na Qiao, Fan-Ying Meng, Qiu-Ling Xu, Jun-Ling Liu

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2012

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Evidence is building steadily on the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy in pain relief and repeated acupuncture-induced pain relief is accompanied by improvement of hippocampal neural synaptic plasticity. To further test the cellular and molecular changes underlying analgesic effect of acupuncture, the global change of acupuncture associated protein profiles in the hippocampus under neuropathic pain condition was profiled.

Methods

The chronic constrictive injury (CCI) model was established by ligature of the unilateral sciatic nerve in adult Wistar rats. Rats were randomized into normal control (NC) group, CCI group, and CCI with electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation group. EA was applied to bilateral Zusanli (ST36) and Yanglingquan (GB34) in the EA group. Differentially expressed proteins in the hippocampus in the three groups were identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. The functional clustering of the identified proteins was analyzed by Mascot software.

Results

After CCI, the thermal pain threshold of the affected hind footpad was decreased and was reversed gradually by 12 sessions of acupuncture treatment. Following EA, there were 19 hippocampal proteins identified with significant changes in expression (>2-fold), which are involved in metabolic, physiological, and cellular processes. The top three canonical pathways identified were “cysteine metabolism”, “valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation” and “mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling”.

Conclusions

These data suggest that the analgesic effect of EA is mediated by regulation of hippocampal proteins related to amino acid metabolism and activation of the MAPK signaling pathway.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Deyo RA, Mirza SK, Martin BI: Back pain prevalence and visit rates: estimates from U.S. national surveys, 2002. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2006, 31 (23): 2724-2727. 10.1097/01.brs.0000244618.06877.cd.CrossRef
2.
Berman BM, Langevin HM, Witt CM, Dubner R: Acupuncture for chronic low back pain. N Engl J Med. 2010, 363 (5): 454-461. 10.1056/NEJMct0806114.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Hart LG, Deyo RA, Cherkin DC: Physician office visits for low back pain. Frequency, clinical evaluation, and treatment patterns from a U.S. national survey. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1995, 20 (1): 11-19. 10.1097/00007632-199501000-00003.CrossRef
4.
Leibing E, Leonhardt U, Koster G, Goerlitz A, Rosenfeldt JA, Hilgers R, Ramadori G: Acupuncture treatment of chronic low-back pain – a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial with 9-month follow-up. Pain. 2002, 96 (1–2): 189-196.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Carlsson CP, Sjolund BH: Acupuncture for chronic low back pain: a randomized placebo-controlled study with long-term follow-up. Clin J Pain. 2001, 17 (4): 296-305. 10.1097/00002508-200112000-00003.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Shen YF, Goddard G: The short-term effects of acupuncture on myofascial pain patients after clenching. Pain Pract. 2007, 7 (3): 256-264. 10.1111/j.1533-2500.2007.00140.x.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Kim HN, Park JH, Kim SK, Sun B, Koo S, Choi SM, Bae H, Min BI: Electroacupuncture potentiates the antiallodynic effect of intrathecal neostigmine in a rat model of neuropathic pain. J Physiol Sci. 2008, 58 (5): 357-360. 10.2170/physiolsci.SC008308.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Yim YK, Lee H, Hong KE, Kim YI, Lee BR, Son CG, Kim JE: Electro-acupuncture at acupoint ST36 reduces inflammation and regulates immune activity in collagen-induced arthritic mice. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2007, 4 (1): 51-57. 10.1093/ecam/nel054.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Bai L, Tian J, Zhong C, Xue T, You Y, Liu Z, Chen P, Gong Q, Ai L, Qin W: Acupuncture modulates temporal neural responses in wide brain networks: evidence from fMRI study. Mol Pain. 2010, 6: 73-10.1186/1744-8069-6-73.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
10.
Guo ZL, Longhurst JC: Expression of c-Fos in arcuate nucleus induced by electroacupuncture: relations to neurons containing opioids and glutamate. Brain Res. 2007, 1166: 65-76.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
11.
Zeng F, Song WZ, Liu XG, Xie HJ, Tang Y, Shan BC, Liu ZH, Yu SG, Liang FR: Brain areas involved in acupuncture treatment on functional dyspepsia patients: a PET-CT study. Neurosci Lett. 2009, 456 (1): 6-10. 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.03.080.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Bingel U, Quante M, Knab R, Bromm B, Weiller C, Buchel C: Subcortical structures involved in pain processing: evidence from single-trial fMRI. Pain. 2002, 99 (1–2): 313-321.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Zhang JH, Li J, Cao XD, Feng XY: Can electroacupuncture affect the sympathetic activity, estimated by skin temperature measurement? a functional MRI study on the effect of needling at GB 34 and GB 39 on patients with pain in the lower extremity. Acupunct Electrother Res. 2009, 34 (3–4): 151-164.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Dhond RP, Yeh C, Park K, Kettner N, Napadow V: Acupuncture modulates resting state connectivity in default and sensorimotor brain networks. Pain. 2008, 136 (3): 407-418. 10.1016/j.pain.2008.01.011.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
15.
Xu QL, Liu T, Chen SP, Gao YH, Wang JY, Qiao LN, Liu JL: The cumulative analgesic effect of repeated electroacupuncture involves synaptic remodeling in the hippocampal CA3 region. Neu Reg Res. 2012, 7 (18): 1378-1385.
16.
Kodama D, Ono H, Tanabe M: Altered hippocampal long-term potentiation after peripheral nerve injury in mice. Eur J Pharmacol. 2007, 574 (2–3): 127-132.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Ulrich-Lai YM, Xie W, Meij JT, Dolgas CM, Yu L, Herman JP: Limbic and HPA axis function in an animal model of chronic neuropathic pain. Physiol Behav. 2006, 88 (1–2): 67-76.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Leong MS, Solvason HB: Case report: limbic system activation by intravenous lidocaine in a patient with a complex regional pain syndrome and major depression. Pain Med. 2000, 1 (4): 358-361. 10.1046/j.1526-4637.2000.00038.x.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Emad Y, Ragab Y, Zeinhom F, El-Khouly G, Abou-Zeid A, Rasker JJ: Hippocampus dysfunction may explain symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome. A study with single-voxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy. J Rheumatol. 2008, 35 (7): 1371-1377.PubMed
20.
Chou CW, Wong GT, Lim G, McCabe MF, Wang S, Irwin MG, Mao J: Peripheral nerve injury alters the expression of NF-kappaB in the rat’s hippocampus. Brain Res. 2011, 1378: 66-71.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Hobson SA, Bacon A, Elliot-Hunt CR, Holmes FE, Kerr NC, Pope R, Vanderplank P, Wynick D: Galanin acts as a trophic factor to the central and peripheral nervous systems. EXS. 2011, 102: 25-38.
22.
Hu Y, Yang J, Wang Y, Li W: Amitriptyline rather than lornoxicam ameliorates neuropathic pain-induced deficits in abilities of spatial learning and memory. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2009, 27 (2): 162-168.CrossRef
23.
Wang X, Zhang Y, Kong L, Xie Z, Lin Z, Guo N, Strong JA, Meij JT, Zhao Z, Jing N: RSEP1 is a novel gene with functional involvement in neuropathic pain behaviour. Eur J Neurosci. 2005, 22 (5): 1090-1096. 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2005.04282.x.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Jungblut PR, Schluter H: Towards the analysis of protein species: an overview about strategies and methods. Amino Acids. 2011, 41 (2): 219-222. 10.1007/s00726-010-0828-4.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Bennett GJ, Xie YK: A peripheral mononeuropathy in rat that produces disorders of pain sensation like those seen in man. Pain. 1988, 33 (1): 87-107. 10.1016/0304-3959(88)90209-6.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Liu JL, Chen SP, Gao YH, Meng FY, Wang SB, Wang JY: Effects of repeated electroacupuncture on beta-endorphin and adrencorticotropic hormone levels in the hypothalamus and pituitary in rats with chronic pain and ovariectomy. Chin J Integr Med. 2010, 16 (4): 315-323. 10.1007/s11655-010-0503-3.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Cohen M, Parker S, Taylor D, de Smit V, Ben-Meir M, Cameron P, Xue C: Acupuncture as analgesia for low back pain, ankle sprain and migraine in emergency departments: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2012, 12: 241-CrossRef
28.
Chernyak GV, Sessler DI: Perioperative acupuncture and related techniques. Anesthesiology. 2005, 102 (5): 1031-1049. 10.1097/00000542-200505000-00024. quiz 1077–1038CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
29.
Junker H, Venz S, Zimmermann U, Thiele A, Scharf C, Walther R: Stage-related alterations in renal cell carcinoma–comprehensive quantitative analysis by 2D-DIGE and protein network analysis. PLoS One. 2011, 6 (7): e21867-10.1371/journal.pone.0021867.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
30.
Yuan J, Zhu L, Liu X, Li T, Zhang Y, Ying T, Wang B, Wang J, Dong H, Feng E: A proteome reference map and proteomic analysis of bifidobacterium longum NCC2705. Mol Cell Proteomics. 2006, 5 (6): 1105-1118. 10.1074/mcp.M500410-MCP200.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Gorg A, Weiss W, Dunn MJ: Current two-dimensional electrophoresis technology for proteomics. Proteomics. 2004, 4 (12): 3665-3685. 10.1002/pmic.200401031.CrossRefPubMed
32.
Gao YH, Chen SP, Wang JY, Qiao LN, Xu QL, Liu JL: Effects of electroacupuncture at different acupoints on the pain behavior and NMDA receptor 2 B subunit mRNA and protein expression and phosphorylation level in the cervical spinal cord in rats with thyroid regional pain. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2009, 34 (6): 376-382.PubMed
33.
Chen MR, Wang P, Cheng G, Guo X, Wei GW, Xu-hui C: Effect of warming needle moxibustion on pain threshold in the patient of sciatica. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2005, 25 (12): 831-833.PubMed
34.
Coitinho AS, Lopes MH, Hajj GN, Rossato JI, Freitas AR, Castro CC, Cammarota M, Brentani RR, Izquierdo I, Martins VR: Short-term memory formation and long-term memory consolidation are enhanced by cellular prion association to stress-inducible protein 1. Neurobiol Dis. 2007, 26 (1): 282-290. 10.1016/j.nbd.2007.01.005.CrossRefPubMed
35.
del Rey A, Yau HJ, Randolf A, Centeno MV, Wildmann J, Martina M, Besedovsky HO, Apkarian AV: Chronic neuropathic pain-like behavior correlates with IL-1beta expression and disrupts cytokine interactions in the hippocampus. Pain. 2011, 152 (12): 2827-2835. 10.1016/j.pain.2011.09.013.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
36.
Xing GG, Liu FY, Qu XX, Han JS, Wan Y: Long-term synaptic plasticity in the spinal dorsal horn and its modulation by electroacupuncture in rats with neuropathic pain. Exp Neurol. 2007, 208 (2): 323-332. 10.1016/j.expneurol.2007.09.004.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Ren WJ, Liu Y, Zhou LJ, Li W, Zhong Y, Pang RP, Xin WJ, Wei XH, Wang J, Zhu HQ: Peripheral nerve injury leads to working memory deficits and dysfunction of the hippocampus by upregulation of TNF-alpha in rodents. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2011, 36 (5): 979-992. 10.1038/npp.2010.236.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
38.
Mutso AA, Radzicki D, Baliki MN, Huang L, Banisadr G, Centeno MV, Radulovic J, Martina M, Miller RJ, Apkarian AV: Abnormalities in hippocampal functioning with persistent pain. J Neurosci. 2012, 32 (17): 5747-5756. 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0587-12.2012.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
39.
Tang SJ, Reis G, Kang H, Gingras AC, Sonenberg N, Schuman EM: A rapamycin-sensitive signaling pathway contributes to long-term synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002, 99 (1): 467-472. 10.1073/pnas.012605299.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Karpova A, Mikhaylova M, Thomas U, Knopfel T, Behnisch T: Involvement of protein synthesis and degradation in long-term potentiation of Schaffer collateral CA1 synapses. J Neurosci. 2006, 26 (18): 4949-4955. 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4573-05.2006.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Colledge M, Snyder EM, Crozier RA, Soderling JA, Jin Y, Langeberg LK, Lu H, Bear MF, Scott JD: Ubiquitination regulates PSD-95 degradation and AMPA receptor surface expression. Neuron. 2003, 40 (3): 595-607. 10.1016/S0896-6273(03)00687-1.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
42.
Hegde AN: Ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated local protein degradation and synaptic plasticity. Prog Neurobiol. 2004, 73 (5): 311-357. 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2004.05.005.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Robillard JM, Gordon GR, Choi HB, Christie BR, MacVicar BA: Glutathione restores the mechanism of synaptic plasticity in aged mice to that of the adult. PLoS One. 2011, 6 (5): e20676-10.1371/journal.pone.0020676.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
44.
Nakazawa K, Quirk MC, Chitwood RA, Watanabe M, Yeckel MF, Sun LD, Kato A, Carr CA, Johnston D, Wilson MA: Requirement for hippocampal CA3 NMDA receptors in associative memory recall. Science. 2002, 297 (5579): 211-218. 10.1126/science.1071795.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
45.
Seo YJ, Kwon MS, Choi HW, Choi SM, Kim YW, Lee JK, Park SH, Jung JS, Suh HW: Differential expression of phosphorylated Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein in the mouse hippocampus induced by various nociceptive stimuli. Neuroscience. 2008, 156 (3): 436-449. 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.08.002.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Yun SJ, Park HJ, Yeom MJ, Hahm DH, Lee HJ, Lee EH: Effect of electroacupuncture on the stress-induced changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in rat hippocampus. Neurosci Lett. 2002, 318 (2): 85-88. 10.1016/S0304-3940(01)02492-2.CrossRefPubMed
47.
Wang SJ, Yang HY, Xu GS: Acupuncture alleviates colorectal hypersensitivity and correlates with the regulatory mechanism of TrpV1 and p-ERK. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012, 2012: 483123-PubMedPubMedCentral
48.
Lai X, Wang J, Nabar NR, Pan S, Tang C, Huang Y, Hao M, Yang Z, Ma C, Zhang J: Proteomic response to acupuncture treatment in spontaneously hypertensive rats. PLoS One. 2012, 7 (9): e44216-10.1371/journal.pone.0044216.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
49.
Sung HJ, Kim YS, Kim IS, Jang SW, Kim YR, Na DS, Han KH, Hwang BG, Park DS, Ko J: Proteomic analysis of differential protein expression in neuropathic pain and electroacupuncture treatment models. Proteomics. 2004, 4 (9): 2805-2813. 10.1002/pmic.200300821.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Differential proteomics analysis of the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture intervention in the hippocampus following neuropathic pain in rats
Authors
Yong-Hui Gao
Shu-Ping Chen
Jun-Ying Wang
Li-Na Qiao
Fan-Ying Meng
Qiu-Ling Xu
Jun-Ling Liu
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-12-241

Other articles of this Issue 1/2012

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2012 Go to the issue

Research article

Effect of Alpinia zerumbet components on antioxidant and skin diseases-related enzymes

Research article

Assessment of anti-depressant effect of nelumbinis semen on rats under chronic mild stress and its subchronic oral toxicity in rats and beagle dogs

Research article

Complementary and alternative medicine use among older Australian women - a qualitative analysis

Research article

The safety of Homnawakod herbal formula containing Aristolochia tagala Cham. in Wistar rats

Research article

Solenostemon monostachyus, Ipomoea involucrata and Carica papaya seed oil versus Glutathione, or Vernonia amygdalina: Methanolic extracts of novel plants for the management of sickle cell anemia disease

Research article

Immunomodulatory and antitumour effects of abnormal Savda Munziq on S180 tumour-bearing mice