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Published on: April 3, 2016
Acupuncture blocks the STAT3-MMP-2 pathway in a guinea pig model of lens-induced myopia
Yu-Hui Zhao1, Xiu-Zhen Lu1,2, Ji-Cun Qian1,3
1College of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.
Objective:
To investigate the effects of manual acupuncture (MA) on the signal transduction and activator of transcription (STAT)3 - matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 pathway in a guinea pig model of lens-induced myopia (LIM).
Methods:
A total of 36 male pigmented guinea pigs (aged 2 weeks) were randomly assigned to the normal control (NC) (n = 12), LIM (n = 12) and LIM + MA (n = 12) groups. The NC group received no intervention. To create myopia, the right eyes of the LIM and LIM + MA groups were covered with -6.00 D lenses. The LIM + MA group received 30 min of acupuncture stimulation daily at Taiyang and LI4. The effect of LIM modelling and MA on ocular measurements, expression of STAT3, phosphorylated (p)-STAT3, MMP-2 and tissue inhibitor of MMP-2 (TIMP)-2 expression (as well as histopathology, morphology and immunohistochemistry of the guinea pigs' eyes) were evaluated.
Results:
Compared with the NC group, the LIM group showed increased expression of STAT3, p-STAT3 and MMP-2, and decreased expression of TIMP-2, as well as an increase in ocular measurements. The eye tissue morphology was disrupted and fibres became thinner in the LIM group. Compared to the LIM group, the LIM + MA group exhibited a noteworthy decline in the expression of STAT3, p-STAT3 and MMP-2, a significant increase in TIMP-2, and a decrease in ocular measurements and tissue morphology, which were similar to that of the NC group.
Conclusion:
Acupuncture has the potential to decrease STAT3 activation and block the STAT3-MMP-2 pathway in the ocular tissue of guinea pigs with experimental LIM, thereby delaying the development of myopia.
Insights
Manual acupuncture (MA) may help delay myopia development by reducing signal transduction and activator of transcription (STAT)3 activation and blocking the STAT3-matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 pathway in the eye. This study explored MA
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology and Vision Science
- Integrative and Complementary Medicine
- Molecular Biology and Genetics
Background:
- Lens-induced myopia (LIM) is a common animal model for studying myopia development.
- The signal transduction and activator of transcription (STAT)3 - matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 pathway is implicated in ocular tissue remodeling.
- Manual acupuncture (MA) is a therapeutic technique with potential anti-inflammatory and tissue-modulating effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the therapeutic effects of manual acupuncture (MA) on experimental lens-induced myopia (LIM) in guinea pigs.
- To elucidate the impact of MA on the STAT3-MMP-2 signaling pathway within ocular tissues.
- To assess the modulation of MMP-2 and its inhibitor, TIMP-2, by MA in the context of myopia.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-six guinea pigs were allocated to normal control, LIM, and LIM + MA groups.
- Myopia was induced using -6.00 D lenses in the right eyes of the LIM and LIM + MA groups.
- The LIM + MA group received daily 30-minute acupuncture at Taiyang and LI4 acupoints; ocular measurements, protein expression (STAT3, p-STAT3, MMP-2, TIMP-2), and histopathology were analyzed.
Main Results:
- LIM induced increased ocular measurements, disrupted eye tissue morphology, and elevated STAT3, p-STAT3, and MMP-2 expression, with decreased TIMP-2.
- MA treatment in the LIM + MA group significantly reduced ocular measurements and improved tissue morphology compared to the LIM group.
- MA intervention notably decreased STAT3, p-STAT3, and MMP-2 expression while increasing TIMP-2 levels, bringing them closer to normal control values.
Conclusions:
- Manual acupuncture demonstrates potential in mitigating experimental myopia progression in guinea pigs.
- MA appears to inhibit the STAT3-MMP-2 pathway in ocular tissues, suggesting a mechanism for its therapeutic effect.
- Acupuncture may serve as a viable complementary therapy for delaying myopia development by modulating key molecular pathways.
