Acupressure bladder meridian alleviates anxiety disorder via HMGB1

Ping Lu; Qi Zhang; Zhiyang Yin; Guangxin Guo; Shuaipan Zhang; Chongjie Yao; Pei He; Yuan Qin; Min Fang

doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111415

Acupressure bladder meridian alleviates anxiety disorder via HMGB1

Int Immunopharmacol. 2024 Jan 25:127:111415. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111415. Epub 2023 Dec 22.

Authors

Ping Lu¹, Qi Zhang², Zhiyang Yin², Guangxin Guo³, Shuaipan Zhang⁴, Chongjie Yao³, Pei He⁵, Yuan Qin², Min Fang⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Tuina, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, PR China; School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, PR China; Institute of Tuina, Shanghai Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
² School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
³ School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, PR China; Institute of Tuina, Shanghai Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
⁴ Department of Tuina, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, PR China; Institute of Tuina, Shanghai Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
⁵ Department of Tuina, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
⁶ Department of Tuina, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, PR China; School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, PR China. Electronic address: fm6505928@sohu.com.

PMID: 38141407
DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111415

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acupressure bladder meridian (ABM) on anxiety in rats with chronic stress.

Methods: The sugar water preference (SPF), tail suspension time (TST) and forced swimming time (FST) of rats were measured. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), myeloperoxidase (MPO) in hippocampus tissue, oxidative stress parameters and inflammatory cytokines were detected. Underlying mechanisms of ABM on anxiety were detected. lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated PC12 cells were adopted in vitro. HMGB1 knockdown were used in PC12 cells, and related signaling was further detected.

Results: ABM significantly increased SPF, decreased TST and FST. ABM decreased ROS, MPO levels, decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, ABM decreased the levels of oxidative stress index. ABM reduced the expression of inflammation-related proteins mediated by HMGB1, increased nuclear factor erythroid2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) and hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1). In vitro PC12 cells, Rat serum (RS-ABM) treated with ABM significantly decreased LPS induced inflammation-related proteins and increased Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway. HMGB1 knockdown inhibited LPS-induced PC12 cell inflammatory signaling pathway and increased Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway.

Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that ROS-dependent HMGB1 plays an important role in anxiety, and ABM exhibits inhibited inflammation in anxiety.

Keywords: Acupressure bladder meridian; Anxiety; HMGB1; Inflammation; ROS.

MeSH terms

Acupressure*
Animals
Anxiety Disorders
Cytokines / metabolism
HMGB1 Protein* / metabolism
Inflammation
Lipopolysaccharides
Meridians*
Rats
Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
Urinary Bladder / metabolism

Substances

Reactive Oxygen Species
HMGB1 Protein
Lipopolysaccharides
Cytokines