Electroacupuncture ameliorates cerebrovascular impairment in Alzheimer's disease mice via melatonin signaling |
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| Authors: | Yimin Jiang Yunshi Lin Yuhang Tan Xinkai Shen Meihua Liao Huan Wang Nannan Lu Feng Han Nenggui Xu Chunzhi Tang Juxian Song Rongrong Tao |
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| Affiliation: | 1. South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China;2. College of Life Science and Technology, Dalian University, Dalian, China;3. Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA;4. Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China |
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| Abstract: | Aims Cerebrovascular impairment contributes to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it still lacks effective intervention in clinical practice. Here, we investigated the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) in cerebrovascular repair in 3xTg-AD mice and its mechanism. Methods 3xTg-AD mice were employed to evaluate the protective effect of EA at ST36 acupoint (EAST36). Behavioral tests were performed to assess neurological disorders. Laser speckle contrast imaging, immunostaining, and Western blot were applied to determine EAST36-boosted cerebrovascular repair. The mechanism was explored in 3xTg mice and endothelial cell cultures by melatonin signaling modulation. Results EAST36 at 20/100 Hz effectively alleviated the olfactory impairment and anxiety behavior and boosted cerebrovascular repair in AD mice. EAST36 attenuated cerebral microvascular degeneration in AD mice by modulating endothelial cell viability and injury. Consequently, the Aβ deposits and neural damage in AD mice were reversed after EAST36. Mechanistically, we revealed that EAST36 restored melatonin levels in AD mice. Melatonin supplement mimicked the EAST36 effect on cerebrovascular protection in AD mice and endothelial cell cultures. Importantly, blockage of melatonin signaling by antagonist blunted EAST36-induced cerebrovascular recovery and subsequent neurological improvement. Conclusions These findings provided strong evidence to support EAST36 as a potential nonpharmacological therapy against cerebrovascular impairment in AD. Further study is necessary to better understand how EAST36 treatment drives melatonin signaling. |
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| Keywords: | Alzheimer's disease cerebrovascular impairment electroacupuncture at ST36 acupoint endothelial cell melatonin signaling |
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