Electro-Acupuncture Protects Diabetic Nephropathy-Induced Inflammation Through Suppression of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Renal Macrophage Isolation

Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2021;21(11):2075-2083. doi: 10.2174/1871530321666210118161721.

Abstract

Background: With the increasing prevalence of diabetes in recent years, diabetic nephropathy (DN) has also become a dangerous disease that greatly endangers human health. The study was designed to determine the mechanism and effect of Electro-acupuncture (EA) in alleviating DN-induced inflammation.

Methods: Mice were intraperitoneally injected with STZ (streptozotocin, 50 mg/kg, S0130, Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) for five consecutive days. After 12 weeks of induction, blood glucose levels were measured (>300 mg/dL).

Results: The serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were decreased in EA-treated DN mice, and EA protected renal injury. EA could suppress HMGB1/NLRP3/NF-κB pathway. HMGB1 inhibition increased the anti-inflammatory effects of EA on DN by suppressing NLRP3/NF-κB pathway. The activation of HMGB1 attenuated the anti-inflammatory effects of EA on DN by inducing NLRP3/ NF-κB pathway.

Conclusion: These results suggested that EA protected DN-induced inflammation through the suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome.

Keywords: Electro-acupuncture; HMGB1; NLRP3; diabetic microangiopathy.; diabetic nephropathy; inflammasome.

MeSH terms

  • Acupuncture Therapy*
  • Animals
  • Diabetes Mellitus* / metabolism
  • Diabetic Nephropathies* / metabolism
  • Diabetic Nephropathies* / therapy
  • Inflammasomes / metabolism
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Kidney
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Inflammasomes
  • NF-kappa B
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • Nlrp3 protein, mouse