Effects of electroacupuncture on MPTP-induced FoXO1/NLRP3 pathway mediated neuroinflammation in mice with Parkinson's disease

HU Mengni; ZHANG Xiaolei; RONG Zhen; WANG Yao; LI Ya'nan; MA Jun

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2024.11.005

Abstract：Objective To investigate whether the mechanism of action of electro-acupuncture in MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease(PD)model mice is related to neuroinflammation mediated by the forkhead box protein O1(FoXO1)/NOD-like receptor heat protein structural domain-related protein 3(NLRP3)signaling pathway.Methods Thirty mice were randomly divided into control(Ctrl),model(MPTP),and electro-acupuncture(EA)groups,with 10 mice in each group.PD mouse model was prepared by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP)30 mg/(kg·d)for 7 d consecutively.Behavioral changes of mice were observed by open field and pole-climbing experiments;α-synuclein(α-syn)expression in the substantia nigra of the midbrain was observed by immunohistochemistry;FoXO1,NLRP3,ASC,and Caspase-1 were deter-mined by Western blot;and the expression of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β)was detected by ELISA in the substantia nigra of the midbrain.Results Mice in the MPTP group showed significant behavioral deficits,with a significant increase in midbrain substantia nigra α-syn(P＜0.01),elevated levels of Iba-1,FoXO1,NLRP3,ASC,and Caspase-1 proteins(P＜0.05 and P＜0.01,respectively),and a significant increase in the levels of TNF-α,and IL-1β(P＜0.01).The treatment of EA was effective in improve the dyskinesia of PD mice,improve motor balance and coordination(P＜0.01),reduce the abnormal aggregation of α-syn(P＜0.01),reduce the abnormal activation of microglia,and alleviate neuroinflammation(P＜0.05).Conclusion Electro-acupuncture may play a protective role in PD by modulating FoXO1/NLRP3 pathway-mediated neuroinflammation.