title: The Alterations of IL-1Beta, IL-6, and TGF-Beta Levels in Hippocampal CA3 Region of Chronic Restraint Stress Rats after Electroacupuncture (EA) Pretreatment.
abstract: Immunological reactions induced by proinflammatory cytokines have been involved in the pathogenesis of depressive disorders. Recent studies showed that Electroacupuncture (EA) was able to reduce depressive symptoms; however, the underlying mechanism and its potential targets remain unknown. In the present study, we used a 21-day chronic restraint stress rats as a model to investigate how EA could alleviate depression. Open field test was carried out to evaluate the depressive symptoms at selected time points. At the end of study, immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to detect the expressions of IL-1beta, IL-6, and TGF-beta in hippocampal CA3 region. We found that chronic restraint stress significantly decreased behavioral activities, whereas EA stimulation at points Baihui (GV 20) and Yintang (GV 29) showed protective effect during the test period. In addition, the IL-1beta, IL-6, and TGF-beta increased in rats exposed to chronic restraint stress, while EA downregulated the levels of IL-1beta and IL-6. These findings implied that EA pretreatment could alleviate depression through modulating IL-1beta and IL-6 expression levels in hippocampal CA3 region.
authors.affiliation: School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tui Na, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Tianwei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tui Na, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Zhuo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tui Na, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Xinjing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tui Na, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tui Na, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Sihan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010110, China.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yingge
authors.affiliation: Department of Tradition Chinese Medicine, Sanlitun Health Service Center, Beijing 100027, China.
authors.forename: Xiaotian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tui Na, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Tu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ya