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Electroacupuncture improves TBI dysfunction by targeting HDAC overexpression and BDNF-associated Akt/GSK-3β signaling
Shih-Ya Hung1,2, Hsin-Yi Chung1, Sih-Ting Luo1
1Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Background:
Acupuncture or electroacupuncture (EA) appears to be a potential treatment in acute clinical traumatic brain injury (TBI); however, it remains uncertain whether acupuncture affects post-TBI histone deacetylase (HDAC) expression or impacts other biochemical/neurobiological events.
Materials And Methods:
We used behavioral testing, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry analysis to evaluate the cellular and molecular effects of EA at LI4 and LI11 in both weight drop-impact acceleration (WD)- and controlled cortical impact (CCI)-induced TBI models.
Results:
Both WD- and CCI-induced TBI caused behavioral dysfunction, increased cortical levels of HDAC1 and HDAC3 isoforms, activated microglia and astrocytes, and decreased cortical levels of BDNF as well as its downstream mediators phosphorylated-Akt and phosphorylated-GSK-3β. Application of EA reversed motor, sensorimotor, and learning/memory deficits. EA also restored overexpression of HDAC1 and HDAC3, and recovered downregulation of BDNF-associated signaling in the cortex of TBI mice.
Conclusion:
The results strongly suggest that acupuncture has multiple benefits against TBI-associated adverse behavioral and biochemical effects and that the underlying mechanisms are likely mediated by targeting HDAC overexpression and aberrant BDNF-associated Akt/GSK-3 signaling.
