title: Electroacupuncture inhibits annulus fibrosis cell apoptosis in vivo via TNF-α-TNFR1-caspase-8 and integrin β1/Akt signaling pathways.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether electroacupuncture (EA) treatment inhibited cell apoptosis of intervertebral annulus fibrosis (AF) via tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1)-caspase-8 and integrin β1/Akt signaling pathways in a rat model of cervical intervertebral disc degeneration caused by unbalanced dynamic and static forces.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were included in this study, of which 24 rats underwent surgery to induce cervical intervertebral disc degeneration, while eight rats received EA treatment at Dazhui (GV 14). Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect TNF-α, TNFR1, and caspase-8. Apoptosis of AF cells was examined with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. The mRNA and protein expression levels of integrin β1 and Akt were evaluated with real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with EA decreased TUNEL-positive AF cells and lowered TNF-α, TNFR1 and caspase-8 positive cells compared with control groups. EA treatment also increased integrin β1 and Akt mRNA and protein levels compared with controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with EA inhibits AF cell apoptosis through suppression of the TNF-α-TNFR1-caspase-8 signal pathway and increases the expression of integrin β1 and Akt. EA may be a good alternative therapy for treating cervical spondylosis.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Le
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiaxuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Debiao
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Meigui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: Teng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D019012:Integrin beta1; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D053181:Caspase 8