Bone marrow‐derived interstitial cells of cajal are increased by electroacupuncture in the colon of diabetic mice

Abstract

Background and Aim Insufficiency of interstitial cells of cajal (ICC) in the muscular plexus of colon has been proved in diabetic mice. Electroacupuncture (EA) at ST36 can accelerate ICC supplement in the colon of diabetic mice, but the source of increased ICC has not been clearly explored. Bone marrow cells possess the potential of migration and differentiation into ICC of the intestine. Our aim is to explore the effects of EA on variations of bone marrow‐derived ICC in the colon of diabetic mice as well as its mechanism. Methods Wild C57BL/6 mice were divided into six groups with random assignment method: control group, diabetic mellitus (DM) group, bone marrow transplantation (BMT) + DM group, BMT + DM + sham EA group, BMT + DM + low‐frequency EA group, and BMT + DM + high‐frequency EA group. Flow cytometric method was adopted to identify the chimera model. The specific location and expression levels of c‐Kit+ green fluorescent protein (GFP+) cells in colon were detected by immunofluorescence. Western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to assess the expression level of c‐Kit, GFP, membrane‐band stem cell factor (mSCF), p‐ERK, p‐c‐Jun, ETV1, stromal cell‐derived factor 1 (SDF‐1), CXCR4, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1), and smad3. Results c‐Kit+ GFP+ cells in the muscular plexus of colon were apparently increased in the EA groups; the protein and mRNA expression level of CXCR4, SDF‐1, TGF‐β1, smad3, c‐kit, mSCF, p‐ERK, p‐c‐Jun, and ETV1 were elevated in the EA groups. Conclusions Electroacupuncture can effectively increase bone marrow‐derived ICC in the colon by SDF‐1/CXCR4, TGF‐β1/Smad3, and mSCF/Kit‐p‐ERK/p‐c‐Jun‐ETV1 signal pathway.

Comprehensive landscape-style investigation of the molecular mechanism of acupuncture at ST36 single acupoint on different systemic diseases

“…There is an increase in c-Kit positive precursor cells in gastrointestinal tissues and their homeostasis is maintained by Ets variant 1 (ETV1), a downstream effector of the SCF/c-Kit signaling pathway [ 100 ]. Further activation of the MAPK signaling pathway phosphorylation by the mSCF/Kit- p -ERK/p- c -Jun-ETV1 signaling pathway predominantly regulates ICC cell proliferation and maintains the ICC activation state and network at near normal levels [ 101 ]. It is evident that electroacupuncture at ST36 may improve gastrointestinal symptoms in the DGP model by causing bone marrow-derived cells to migrate to the stomach and intestine primarily through the SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling pathway and differentiating them into ICC cells through the mSCF/Kit- p -ERK/p- c -Jun-ETV1 signaling pathway.…”

Probiotic bacteria and bile acid profile are modulated by prebiotic diet and associate with facilitated diurnal clock/sleep realignment after chronic disruption of rhythms

“…The mechanisms for how prebiotic-induced changes in gut microbial ecology impact complex brain functions and modulate physiology are largely unknown. There is evidence that changes in microbially derived secondary bile acid profiles, for example, could play a role (McMillin and DeMorrow 2016; An, Zhao, and Liu 2019; Perino et al 2020). Bile acid enterohepatic cycling is a complex and dynamic process (Mertens et al 2017).…”