title: "Qufeng Tongluo" acupuncture prevents the progression of glomerulonephritis by decreasing renal sympathetic nerve activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the exact mechanism(s) underlying acupuncture remain unknown, acupuncture and acupuncture-like somatic nerve stimulation have been used to treat different kidney diseases and several complications related to them.The aim of this preliminary study was to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture on glomerulonephritis (GN) according to the theory of "Wind-hided renal collaterals" previously proposed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a New Zealand white rabbit model of cationized bovine serum albumin (cBSA)-induced glomerulonephritis and then administered them metoprolol, irbesartan or acupuncture to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment and preliminarily explore its potential mechanism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After immunization, our results showed that compared to the cBSA+MET and cBSA+IRB medication groups, "Qufeng Tongluo" significantly lowered parameters of renal function and improved podocyte injury in the 3rd, 6th and 8th weeks of treatment. Moreover, acupuncture increased the protein expression of phosphorylated ERK1/2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that a potential mechanism by which acupuncture has an antihypertensive effect and can significantly halt deteriorating renal function due to cBSA GN might be mediated by inhibiting the Erk1/2 MAPK pathway to reduce renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA).
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrated Chinese Traditional and Western Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi׳an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi Province Key TCM Department of Nephrology, Xi׳an 710004, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrated Chinese Traditional and Western Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi׳an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi Province Key TCM Department of Nephrology, Xi׳an 710004, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.affiliation: Medical School of Xi׳an Jiaotong University, Xi׳an 710061, China.
authors.forename: Xing-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrated Chinese Traditional and Western Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi׳an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi Province Key TCM Department of Nephrology, Xi׳an 710004, China.
authors.forename: Bing-Yu
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrated Chinese Traditional and Western Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi׳an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi Province Key TCM Department of Nephrology, Xi׳an 710004, China. Electronic address: wuxili1984@163.com.
authors.forename: Xi-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000077405:Irbesartan; D007668:Kidney / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D050199:Podocytes / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D013777:Tetrazoles; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D008790:Metoprolol; D000077405:Irbesartan
keywords: Erk1/2 MAPK pathway; Renal sympathetic nerve activity; cBSA glomerulonephritis; “Qufeng Tongluo” acupuncture