Effect of acupuncture on BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway after moderate traumatic brain injury

doi:10.3877/cma.j.issn.2095-9141.2023.04.002

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective

To investigate the effect of acupuncture on brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and receptor tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) activity after moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods

Forty-two adult SD male rats were randomly divided into TBI group (21 rats) and TBI+acupuncture group (21 rats) according to random number table method. The moderate TBI model was established by fluid percussion instrument in both groups. The TBI group was only modeled, and the TBI+acupuncture group was given acupuncture treatment after the TBI model was established. Tissue homogenates and sections were harvested 21 d after moderate TBI. The level of BDNF was examined by ELISA. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression level of TrkB protein at 6 and 12 h after moderate TBI, Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of TrkB protein at 48, 96, and 168 h after moderate TBI, and the expression of protein kinase B (Akt) and extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) at 12 and 48 h.

Results

The expression level of BDNF protein in two groups of rats reached its peak at 12 h after moderate TBI and gradually decreased at 48 h. The BDNF protein levels in the TBI+acupuncture group were higher than those in the TBI group at 6, 48, 96, 168 h after TBI, with statistical significance (P<0.05), there was no statistically significant difference in BDNF protein levels at 12 h (P>0.05). The levels of p-TrkB protein in the TBI+acupuncture group were higher than those in the TBI group at 6, 12, 48, 96, 168 h, while p-Akt and p-Erk1/2 protein levels were higher than those in the TBI group at 12, 48 h, with statistical significance (P<0.05).

Conclusion

Acupuncture therapy can upregulate the expression level of BDNF protein after moderate TBI, and activate TrkB protein by phosphorylation, ultimately activating its downstream signaling pathway.

Key words: Traumatic brain injury, Acupuncture therapy, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, Tyrosine kinase receptor B

Jingjing Wang, Feng Fu, Jianwei Li, Dangli Ren, Chong Chen, Hui Liu, Hongtao Sun, Yue Tu. Effect of acupuncture on BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway after moderate traumatic brain injury[J]. Chinese Journal of Neurotraumatic Surgery(Electronic Edition), 2023, 09(04): 199-205.

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Figures/Tables 9

Tab.1 Comparison of BDNF protein expression levels between two groups of rats at different time points after moderate TBI (pg/mg, Mean±SD)

组别	只数	6 h（n=3）	12 h（n=3）	48 h（n=3）	96 h（n=3）	168 h（n=3）	F值	P值
TBI组	15	26.36±3.97	46.24±6.35	14.89±2.31	14.44±1.65	13.96±1.46	43.770	0.001
TBI+针刺组	15	37.12±4.68	54.01±6.42	41.21±5.63	38.45±4.65	37.01±4.23	5.726	0.011
t值		3.039	1.491	7.474	8.429	8.920
P值		0.038	0.210	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001

Fig.1 Immunofluorescence staining results of p-TrkB protein in the acute phase of cerebral cortex after moderate TBI (400×)

Tab.2 Comparison of p-TrkB protein fluorescence intensity in the cerebral cortex between two groups of rats during acute phase (Mean±SD)

组别	只数	6 h（n=3）	12 h（n=3）	t值	P值
TBI组	6	126.50±11.15	190.59±13.23	6.417	0.003
TBI+针刺组	6	176.68±18.25	225.99±16.33	3.488	0.025
t值		4.063	2.918
P值		0.015	0.043

Fig.2 Western blot results of p-TrkB and TrkB at 48, 96, and 168 h after moderate TBI in two groups of rats

Tab.3 Comparison of p-TrkB protein expression levels between two groups of rats at 48, 96, and 168 h after moderate TBI (Mean±SD)

组别	只数	48 h（n=3）	96 h（n=3）	168 h（n=3）	F值	P值
TBI	9	0.412±0.050	0.354±0.049	0.432±0.050	2.037	0.211
TBI+针刺组	9	1.421±0.201	1.435±0.192	1.201±0.190	1.368	0.324
t值		8.454	9.452	6.762
P值		0.001	0.001	0.002

Fig.3 Western blot results of p-Akt and Akt at 12 and 48 h after moderate TBI in two groups of rats

Tab.4 Comparison of p-Akt protein expression levels between two groups of rats at 12 and 48 h after moderate TBI (Mean±SD)

组别	只数	12 h（n=3）	48 h（n=3）	t值	P值
TBI组	6	0.60±0.08	0.21±0.03	8.490	0.001
TBI+针刺组	6	1.42±0.19	1.25±0.17	1.146	0.316
t值		7.040	10.610
P值		0.002	<0.001

Fig.4 Western blot results of p-Erk1/2 and Erk1/2 at 12 and 48 h after moderate TBI in two groups of rats

Tab.5 Comparison of p-Erk1/2 protein expression levels between two groups of rats at 12 and 48 h after moderate TBI (Mean±SD)

组别	只数	12 h（n=3）	48 h（n=3）	t值	P值
TBI组	6	0.45±0.06	0.20±0.03	6.753	0.003
TBI+针刺组	6	1.15±0.20	0.95±0.10	1.603	0.184
t值		5.819	12.090
P值		0.004	<0.001

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