Electroacupuncture alleviates perioperative hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction via circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks

Abstract

Electroacupuncture (EA) has long been used to alleviate surgery-induced hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis dysfunction. However, its downstream gene targets in the brain remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to clarify the potential targets of EA based on RNA sequencing techniques (RNA-seq). Rats were divided into normal control (NC), hepatectomy surgery (HT), HT + EA, and HT + sham EA groups followed by RNA-seq of two representative nuclei in the hypothalamus and amygdala. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis identified six gene modules associated with neuroendocrine transmitters and neural remodeling in the hypothalamus. Furthermore, circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction networks revealed EA-related candidate miRNAs and circRNAs, of which opioid receptor mu 1 might be an EA-specific target, and showed regulation by competing endogenous RNA. We identified the neuroendocrine circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks through which EA has an effect on HPA axis dysfunction, thus providing potential targets and future research directions for EA treatment.

Research Status and Prospects of Acupuncture in Perioperative Medicine Over the Past Decade: A Bibliometric Analysis

“… 60 A growing number of clinical studies have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EA and TEAS in the perioperative period and the related mechanism research has gradually penetrated the molecular level of the central neural system. 61 …”

“…60 A growing number of clinical studies have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EA and TEAS in the perioperative period and the related mechanism research has gradually penetrated the molecular level of the central neural system. 61 In a word, this study analyzed the general information and identified the research hotspots and trends of acupuncture in perioperative medicine in the past decade by bibliometric analysis. Most research on the application of acupuncture in perioperative medicine focused on postoperative pain management and postoperative gastrointestinal functional recovery, especially for postoperative ileus and PONV.…”