Manual acupuncture relieves bile acid-induced itch in mice: the role of microglia and TNF-α

International Journal of Medical Sciences
Yu-Chen LeeYi-Hung Chen

Abstract

Pruritus, or itch, is a frequent complaint amongst patients with cholestatic hepatobiliary disease and is difficult to manage, with many patients refractory to currently available antipruritic treatments. In this study, we examined whether manual acupuncture (MA) at particular acupoints represses deoxycholic acid (DCA)-induced scratching behavior and microglial activation and compared these effects with those induced by another pruritogen, 5'-guanidinonaltrindole (GNTI, a kappa opioid receptor antagonist). MA at Hegu (LI4) and Quchi (LI11) acupoints significantly attenuated DCA- and GNTI-induced scratching, whereas no such effects were observed at the bilateral Zusanli acupoints (ST36). Interestingly, GNTI-induced scratching was reduced similarly by both MA and electroacupuncture (EA) at the LI4 and LI11 acupoints. MA at non-acupoints did not affect scratching behavior. Intraperitoneal injection of minocycline (a microglial inhibitor) reduced GNTI- and DCA-induced scratching behavior. In Western blot analysis, subcutaneous DCA injection to the back of the neck increased spinal cord expression of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) as compared with saline injection, while MA ...Continue Reading

Citations

Feb 13, 2020·Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM·Ning ZhangShuguang Yu
Dec 30, 2020·The American Journal of Chinese Medicine·Jingyi WenKai He
Aug 8, 2021·Phytomedicine : International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology·Kaihui ZhangChaozhan Lin
Dec 11, 2021·Acupuncture in Medicine : Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society·Xiao-Ning ZhangBing Zhu

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
Protein Assay
electrophoresis
confocal microscopy

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