Transcriptome analysis of rats with chronic unpredictable mild stress treated with electroacupuncture

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Genetics
• Integrative and Complementary Medicine

Background:

• Depression is a widespread psychiatric disorder with limited treatment efficacy for many patients.
• Electroacupuncture (EA) presents a promising non-pharmacological approach for managing depressive symptoms.
• Understanding the molecular mechanisms of EA is crucial for its clinical application in stress-related disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of EA on depression-like behaviors induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in rats.
• To identify genome-wide transcriptomic alterations in the hippocampus following CUMS and EA treatment using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq).
• To elucidate the molecular pathways through which EA ameliorates depression.

Main Methods:

• Behavioral tests (SPT, OFT, FST) assessed depression-like behaviors in CUMS-exposed rats with and without EA.
• RNA-Seq analysis identified differential gene expression in the hippocampus.
• Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) validated the expression profiles of key genes.

Main Results:

• CUMS induced significant depression-like behaviors, which were reversed by EA treatment.
• EA modulated the expression of 63 genes in the hippocampus, predominantly associated with immune pathways.
• Expression levels of Colla2, Col3a1, Psmb9, and Tap1 were altered by CUMS and normalized by EA.

Conclusions:

• EA applied at GV20 and LR3 acupoints effectively attenuates CUMS-induced depression-like behaviors.
• EA exerts its therapeutic effects by regulating the expression of specific genes, including Colla2, Col3a1, Psmb9, and Tap1.
• These findings provide a molecular basis for the clinical use of EA in treating depression and stress-related conditions.