[Expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling substances in gastric mucosal cells influenced by serum derived from rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of serum derived from rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints on the expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling substances phospholipase C gamma-1 (PLC gamma-1), protein kinase C (PKC) and c-myc in gastric mucosal cells.


METHODS
Sixty rats were randomly divided into normal group, stomach meridian group, gallbladder meridian group, stomach meridian plus PD153035 group and gallbladder meridian plus PD153035 group. Water-immersion and restrained stress methods were adopted for inducing gastric mucosal injury in the rats. Gastric mucosal cells were separated by using pronase digestion method, and incubated by PD153035, a EGFR inhibitor, and 100 ml/L serum. The expression of PLC gamma-1 in the gastric mucosal cells was tested by enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while the expression of PKC by isotope incorporate assay and the expression of c-myc by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
In gastric mucosal cells, weak expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc were seen in the normal group, and relatively strong expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc were seen in the stomach meridian group and the gallbladder meridian group, among which, the expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc in the stomach meridian group were the strongest, and there was a significant difference between the stomach meridian group and the gallbladder meridian group (P<0.01). Relative weak expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc were seen in the stomach meridian plus PD153035 group and the gallbladder meridian plus PD153035 group, and there was a significant difference between the stomach meridian group and the stomach meridian plus PD153035 group (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The serum derived from the rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints can activate the EGFR singling pathway, and this provides an evidence for the theory of "relative particularity between meridians and viscera" in traditional Chinese medicine.
Yan
Jie
J
College of Acupuncture and Massage, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan Province 410007, China. yj5381159@yahoo.com.cn
Yang
Zong-bao
ZB
Chang
Xiao-rong
XR
Yi
Shou-xiang
SX
Lin
Ya-ping
YP
Zhong
Yan
Y
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D051966:Phospholipase C gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D044967:Serum; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D011799:Quinazolines; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D051966:Phospholipase C gamma; C088860:4-((3-bromophenyl)amino)-6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline