Electroacupuncture Promotes Angiogenesis in Mice with Cerebral Ischemia by Inhibiting MiR-7

Overview

Journal Chin J Integr Med

Date 2024 Mar 27

PMID 38532151

Authors

Qian Yu

Shi Shu

Xin-Yao Ju

Wei Peng

Xue-Qi Ren

Shu-Han Si

Shi-Zhen Song

Xue-Yun Xie

Bang-Jiang Fang

Shuang Zhou

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To observe the angiogenesis effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Shuigou acupoint (GV 26) in the treatment of cerebral ischemia, and explore the value of miRNA-7 (miR-7) in it.

Methods: First, 48 mice were randomly divided into sham operation, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, and EA treatment groups. Then 9 mice were divided into carrier control group, miR-7 knockout group and miR-7 overexpression group (n=3 each group). Finally, 20 mice were divided into model and carrier control group, model and miR-7 knockout group, EA treatment and carrier control group and EA treatment and miR-7 overexpression group, with 3-6 mice in each group. The MCAO model was established in the MCAO and EA groups. Neurological deficit score and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining were used to evaluate the severity of cerebral ischemia. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to describe basic pathological changes. Immunohistochemistry was used to quantify cerebral microvessel density. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of miR-7 and its downstream target genes Krüppel-like factor 4/vascular endothelial growth factor (KLF4/VEGF) and angiopoietin-2 (ANG-2) in the ischemic cerebral cortex.

Results: After EA, neurological deficit scores and infarction volumes decreased, and the density of cerebral microvessels increased. In the MCAO group, miR-7 expression was higher than that in the sham group (P<0.01). After EA at GV 26, miR-7 expression decreased (P<0.01) and the expression of downstream target genes KLF4/VEGF and ANG-2 increased as compared with the MCAO group (P<0.01). After EA combined with overexpression of miR-7, the expression of downstream target genes KLF4/VEGF and ANG-2 decreased compared to the control EA group (P<0.01). After miR-7 knockdown, the expression of KLF4/VEGF and ANG-2 increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

Conclusions: EA could promote angiogenesis in MCAO mice likely by inhibiting the expression of miR-7 and relieving inhibition of downstream target genes KLF4/VEGF and ANG-2.

Citing Articles

Electroacupuncture alleviates functional constipation by upregulating host-derived miR-205-5p to modulate gut microbiota and tryptophan metabolism.

Wang L, Xi M, Cao W, Qin H, Qin D, Chen S Front Microbiol. 2025; 16:1517018.

PMID: 39973939 PMC: 11835812. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1517018.

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