Mechanism of Electroacupuncture on Postherpetic Neuralgia in Rats by Regulating MIP-1 α/CCR1/CCR5 Signal Pathway

AN Nan; ZHANG Chunyu; JIAO Jiaming

Abstract：Objective To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture in regulating CC-chemokine ligand(CCL3,or MIP-1α)/C-C chemokine receptor(CCR)1/CCR 5 signaling pathway on postherpetic neuralgia in rats.Methods Eighty SPF rats(male and female)were randomly divided into blank group,model group,pregabalin group and electroacupuncture group,with 20 rats in each group.Except for the blank group,rats in the model group,pregabalin group and electroacupuncture group received 200 μg/kg of gum lipotoxin mixture intraperitoneally to establish a model of postherpetic neuralgia.After successful modeling,the blank group was given 0.9%sodium chloride by gavage.The pregabalin group were given 27 mg/(kg·d)pregabalin orally.In the electroacupuncture group,"Jiaji""Ganshu""Danshu""Zhigou""Yanglingquan"and"Hegu"were selected for electroacupuncture treatment.And each group was treated for 7 days.The mechanical and thermal pain sensitivity of rats in all groups were compared,the morphological changes of spinal cord neurons were observed by HE staining,and the levels of inflammatory factors IL-4,IL-6,TNF-α and neurotransmitters NK-1 and substance P(SP)in spinal cord tissue were determined by ELISA.The protein expression related to MIP-1α/CCR1/CCR5 signaling pathway was measured by Western blot.Results Compared with blank group,the mechanical pain sensitivity was decreased(P<0.01),while the levels of thermal pain sensitivity,IL-4,IL-6,TNF-α,NK-1,SP,MIP-1α,CCR1 and CCR5 were increased in model group(P<0.01).Compared with model group,the mechanical pain sensitivity increased(P<0.01),while thermal pain sensitivity,as well as the expressions of other indicators above were decreased(P<0.01)in electroacupuncture group and pregabalin group.Conclusion Electroacupuncture can treat postherpetic neuralgia in rats by modulating MIP-1α/CCR1/CCR5 signaling pathway.