Effect of Acupuncture-rehabilitation Therapy on Neural Function and Expression of Forkhead Box P3 and Retinoic Acid-related Orphan Receptor γt in Mice with Cerebral Ischemia / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the effect of acupuncture-rehabilitation therapy on the expression of transcription factor forkheadbox P3 (Foxp3) and retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt) protein in cerebral ischemic mice. Methods Forty-five female C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to sham operation group, model group, acupuncture group, rehabilitation group, and acupuncture-rehabilitation group, with nine mice in each group. Subsequently, each group was divided into three days, seven days and 14 days subgroups. The permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion models were established by the suture method, except the sham operation group. The sham operation group and the model group received no treatment. The acupuncture group received scalp cluster acupuncture, the rehabilitation group received treadmill training, and the acupuncture-rehabilitation group received scalp cluster acupuncture combined with treadmill training. Three days, seven days and 14 days after modeling, the modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS) was obtained, and the expression of Foxp3 and RORγt in brain tissue of ischemic side was analyzed by Western blotting. Results The mNSS in the sham operation group was 0, and was higher in the model group than in the sham operation group at each postoperative time point. Three days after operation, the mNSS decreased in the rehabilitation group and the acupuncture-rehabilitation group, compared to the model group (P < 0.05). Fourteen days after operation, the mNSS decreased in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group, compared to the model group and acupuncture group (P < 0.05). The expression of Foxp3 protein was significantly lower in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group than in other groups at all time points after surgery( P < 0.05). Three days after operation, the expression of RORγt was higher in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group than in other groups (P < 0.05). Seven days after operation, the expression of RORγt was higher in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group than in the acupuncture group and sham operation group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture-rehabilitation therapy may improve the tissue injury of cerebral ischemia mice, and promote the recovery of neural function, possibly by regulating Foxp3 and RORγT expression to reduce the level of inflammation, and then exert neuroprotective effects.