Comprehensive Rehabilitation Department, The Third Hospital of Quzhou, Quzhou 324026, Zhejiang, China.
Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, People's Hospital of Quzhou, No.2 Zhongloudi, Kecheng District, Quzhou 324000, Zhejiang, China.
Acta Biochim Pol. 2022 Dec 2;69(4):805-810. doi: 10.18388/abp.2020_6132.
Acupuncture can be used to treat vascular dementia (VD), but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the expression and clinical significance of microRNA-143-3p (miR-143-3p) in VD patients and explore whether acupuncture ameliorates VD by regulating miR-143-3p.
Cognitive function and daily living ability in VD patients were assessed by mini-mental state examination, Hasegawa's dementia scale and activities of daily living scale, respectively. VD model of male Wistar rats was established using permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. The expression level of miR-143-3p was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Morris water maze test was used to assess the cognitive function of VD rat model. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to assess the diagnostic value of miR-143-3p in VD patients. Correlations between variables were analyzed by Pearson's correlation analysis.
Increased serum miR-143-3p expression in VD patients had a high diagnostic value to screen VD patients. Serum miR-143-3p level in VD patients after acupuncture treatment was decreased. After acupuncture treatment, serum miR-143-3p was negatively correlated with cognitive function and daily living ability in VD patients. miR-143-3p level was increased in VD rats, and the suppressive effects of acupuncture on miR-143-3p levels were relieved by miR-143-3p mimic. Overexpression of miR-143-3p reversed the ameliorative effect of acupuncture on cognitive functions of VD rats.
Serum miR-143-3p expression is upregulated in VD patients and downregulated in VD patients after acupuncture treatment. Additionally, acupuncture treatment may attenuate cognitive impairments in VD by suppressing miR-143-3p.
针灸可用于治疗血管性痴呆（VD），但其潜在机制尚不清楚。本研究旨在探讨微小 RNA-143-3p（miR-143-3p）在 VD 患者中的表达及其临床意义，并探讨针灸是否通过调节 miR-143-3p 改善 VD。
采用简易精神状态检查、长谷川痴呆量表和日常生活活动量表分别评估 VD 患者的认知功能和日常生活能力。采用永久性双侧颈总动脉闭塞法建立雄性 Wistar 大鼠 VD 模型。采用实时定量 PCR 检测 miR-143-3p 的表达水平。采用 Morris 水迷宫试验评估 VD 大鼠模型的认知功能。采用受试者工作特征曲线分析 miR-143-3p 对 VD 患者的诊断价值。采用 Pearson 相关分析对变量之间的相关性进行分析。
VD 患者血清 miR-143-3p 表达升高，对 VD 患者的筛查具有较高的诊断价值。针刺治疗后，VD 患者血清 miR-143-3p 水平降低。针刺治疗后，VD 患者血清 miR-143-3p 与认知功能和日常生活能力呈负相关。VD 大鼠血清 miR-143-3p 水平升高，miR-143-3p 模拟物减轻针刺对 miR-143-3p 水平的抑制作用。miR-143-3p 过表达逆转了针刺对 VD 大鼠认知功能的改善作用。
VD 患者血清 miR-143-3p 表达上调，针刺治疗后 VD 患者血清 miR-143-3p 表达下调。此外，针刺治疗可能通过抑制 miR-143-3p 来减轻 VD 患者的认知障碍。
