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Yao K, Chen Z, Li Y, Dou B, Xu Z, Ma Y, Du S, Wang J, Fu J, Liu Q, Fan Z, Liu Y, Lin X, Xu Y, Fang Y, Wang S, Guo Y. TRPA1 Ion Channel Mediates the Analgesic Effects of Acupuncture at the ST36 Acupoint in Mice Suffering from Arthritis. J Inflamm Res 2024; 17:1823-1837. [PMID: 38523680 PMCID: PMC10961083 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s455699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Acupuncture (ACU) has been demonstrated to alleviate inflammatory pain. Mechanoreceptors are present in acupuncture points. When acupuncture exerts mechanical force, these ion channels open and convert the mechanical signals into biochemical signals. TRPA1 (T ransient receptor potential ankyrin 1) is capable of sensing various physical and chemical stimuli and serves as a sensor for inflammation and pain. This protein is expressed in immune cells and contributes to local defense mechanisms during early tissue damage and inflammation. In this study, we investigated the role of TRPA1 in acupuncture analgesia. Patients and Methods We injected complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the mouse plantars to establish a hyperalgesia model. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analyses were performed to determine the effect of acupuncture on the TRPA1 expression in the Zusanli (ST36). We used TRPA1-/- mouse and pharmacological methods to antagonize TRPA1 to observe the effect on acupuncture analgesia. On this basis, collagenase was used to destroy collagen fibers at ST36 to observe the effect on TRPA1. Results We found that the ACU group vs the CFA group, the number of TRPA1-positive mast cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts at the ST36 increased significantly. In CFA- inflammatory pain models, the TRPA1-/- ACU vs TRPA1+/+ ACU groups, the paw withdrawal latency (PWL) and paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) downregulated significantly. In the ACU + high-, ACU + medium-, ACU + low-dose HC-030031 vs ACU groups, the PWL and PWT were downregulated, and in carrageenan-induced inflammatory pain models were consistent with these results. We further found the ACU + collagenase vs ACU groups, the numbers of TRPA1-positive mast cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts at the ST36 were downregulated. Conclusion These findings together imply that TRPA1 plays a significant role in the analgesic effects produced via acupuncture at the ST36. This provides new evidence for acupuncture treatment of painful diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaifang Yao
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhihan Chen
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanwei Li
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Baomin Dou
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhifang Xu
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
- School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yajing Ma
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Simin Du
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiangshan Wang
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiangjiang Fu
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qi Liu
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zezhi Fan
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yangyang Liu
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
- School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaowei Lin
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
- School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuan Xu
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
- School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuxin Fang
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
- School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shenjun Wang
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
- School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Guo
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
- School of Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin City, People’s Republic of China
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