Huo Bi-Xiu, Wang Zhi-Ling, Jiao Ying-Qian, Wang Xiao-Yi, Lang Yan-Li, Mi Yong-Jun, Li Zhi-Xin, Ma Zhi-Zhong
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, China.
Department of Integration of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 Aug 4;2022:2695679. doi: 10.1155/2022/2695679. eCollection 2022.
Back muscle injury is the most common illness involved in aged people. Muscular satellite cells, playing a key role in the muscle repairing process, are gradually losing their regenerative ability with aging, which attenuates the injured muscle repairing process. Electroacupuncture at Weizhong acupoint has been widely used in the treatment of young and aged patients with back muscle damage. Its efficacy has been proven by a randomized double-blind placebo clinical trial. However, the rehabilitation mechanisms are largely unknown. This study will explore the possible mechanisms associated with electroacupuncture at the Weizhong acupoint (BL 40) promoting muscle repairing ability.
A total of 58 male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a younger group (4-month-old) and an aged group (16-month-old), younger and aged rats were further divided as a sham, injured, injured rats treated with electroacupuncture at Weizhong point or treated with Non-Weizhong point groups. The back muscle injury model was produced in rats as a previously described method with modification. Furthermore, Weizhong acupoints underwent electroacupuncture treatment with 15 V magnitude, 2 Hz/10 Hz frequency density, 1.0 mA current intensity, and 10 min each day for 10 consecutive days using HANS's electroacupuncture apparatus. After the last treatment, the paravertebral muscles and serum of all animals were undergone histological, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry analysis. Serum levels of Creatine Kinase (CK) and proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin 6 (IL-6), were measured separately by using ELISA kit.
Electroacupuncture of Weizhong (BL 40) acupoints significantly attenuated back muscle damage in both young and aged rats, increasing PAX7 (a marker of muscle satellite cells) and MYOD (major marker of myoblasts) cells, simultaneously, reducing serum proinflammatory cytokines, IL-6, and downregulation of p38 MAPK signaling in aged muscular satellite cells.
Our studies suggest that electroacupuncture of Weizhong (BL 40) acupoints can restore aged back muscular satellite cells and their regeneration capacity. These suggested electroacupuncture may be a potential means of promoting rehabilitation for muscular injury in aged patients.
背部肌肉损伤是老年人最常见的疾病。肌肉卫星细胞在肌肉修复过程中起关键作用，但随着年龄增长其再生能力逐渐丧失，这会削弱受损肌肉的修复过程。委中穴电针已广泛应用于治疗背部肌肉损伤的年轻和老年患者。其疗效已通过随机双盲安慰剂临床试验得到证实。然而，其康复机制在很大程度上尚不清楚。本研究将探讨委中穴（BL 40）电针促进肌肉修复能力的可能机制。
将58只雄性和雌性Sprague-Dawley大鼠分为年轻组（4个月大）和老年组（16个月大），年轻和老年大鼠再进一步分为假手术组、损伤组、委中穴电针治疗损伤大鼠组或非委中穴治疗组。采用先前描述并改良的方法在大鼠中建立背部肌肉损伤模型。此外，使用HANS电针仪对委中穴进行电针治疗，强度为15V，频率密度为2Hz/10Hz，电流强度为1.0mA，每天10分钟，连续10天。最后一次治疗后，对所有动物的椎旁肌肉和血清进行组织学、免疫组织化学和流式细胞术分析。分别使用ELISA试剂盒测量血清肌酸激酶（CK）和促炎细胞因子白细胞介素6（IL-6）的水平。
委中穴（BL 40）电针显著减轻了年轻和老年大鼠的背部肌肉损伤，增加了PAX7（肌肉卫星细胞标志物）和MYOD（成肌细胞主要标志物）细胞，同时降低了血清促炎细胞因子IL-6，并下调了老年肌肉卫星细胞中p38 MAPK信号通路。
我们的研究表明，委中穴（BL 40）电针可恢复老年背部肌肉卫星细胞及其再生能力。这些结果提示电针可能是促进老年患者肌肉损伤康复的一种潜在手段。
