Excessive release of high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) protein from ischemic cardiomyocytes activates inflammatory cascades and enhances myocardial injury after reperfusion. Here we report evidence that electroacupuncture of mice at Neiguan acupoints can inhibit the up-regulation of cardiac HMGB1 following myocardial ischemia and attenuate the associated inflammatory responses and myocardial injury during reperfusion. These benefits of electroacupuncture were partially reversed by administering recombinant HMGB1 to the mice, and further potentiated by administering anti-HMGB1 antibody. Electroacupuncture-induced inhibition of HMGB1 release was markedly reduced by unilateral vagotomy or administration of nicotinic receptor antagonist, but not by chemical sympathectomy. The cholinesterase inhibitor neostigmine mimicked the effects of electroacupuncture on HMGB1 release and myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury. Culture experiments with isolated neonatal cardiomyocytes showed that acetylcholine, but not noradrenaline, inhibited hypoxia-induced release of HMGB1 via a alpha 7nAchR-dependent pathway. These results suggest that electroacupuncture acts via the vagal nerve and its nicotinic receptor-mediated signaling to inhibit HMGB1 release from ischemic cardiomyocytes. This helps attenuate pro-inflammatory responses and myocardial injury during reperfusion.
[1]Shanghai Univ Tradit Chinese Med, Shuguang Hosp, Dept Anesthesiol, Shanghai 201203, Peoples R China.
[2]Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Sch Med, Renji Hosp, Dept Anesthesiol, Shanghai 200127, Peoples R China.
[3]Shanghai Univ Tradit Chinese Med, Shuguang Hosp, Lab Integrat Med Surg Dept, Shanghai 201203, Peoples R China.
[4]Shanghai Univ Tradit Chinese Med, Shuguang Hosp, Dept Cardiothorac Surg, Shanghai 201203, Peoples R China.
[5]Tongji Univ, Shanghai Pneumol Hosp, Sch Med, Dept Nursing, Shanghai 200433, Peoples R China.
[6]Tongji Univ, Shanghai Pneumol Hosp, Sch Med, Dept Anesthesiol, Shanghai 200433, Peoples R China.
[7]Peoples Liberat Army, Hosp 452, Dept Anesthesiol, Chengdu 610061, Peoples R China.
[8]Soochow Univ, Affiliated Hosp 1, Dept Anesthesiol, Suzhou 215006, Peoples R China.
(8.0+极速模式)