Role of Neuro-Immune Cross-Talk in the Anti-obesity Effect of Electro-Acupuncture

Abstract

There is evidence to show that electro-acupuncture (EA) has a promotive effect on both lipolysis and thermogenesis, and that these mechanisms underlie the anti-obesity effect of EA. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is known to play a role in thermogenesis. Additionally, obesity is characterized by a chronic low-grade inflammatory state. Based on these findings, the aim of the present study is to investigate the potential neuro-immune mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of EA in obesity. In the experiment, we used a high fat diet (HFD) rats model to study the effect of EA in reducing body weight. EA increases the activity of sympathetic nerves in inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT), especially in the HFD group. Compared to HFD rats, EA can decrease sympathetic associated macrophage (SAM) and the level of norepinephrine transporter protein (Slc6a2). The relative uncoupling protein 1 expression shows EA increases thermogenesis in iWAT, and increases β3 receptors. Interestingly, injecting β antagonist in iWAT increases Slc6a2 protein levels. Additionally, the SNS-macrophage cross-talk response to EA showed in iWAT but not in epididymis white adipose tissue. The results of the present study indicate that EA exerts its anti-obesity effect via three mechanisms: (1) inhibition of SAMs and the norepinephrine transporter protein SlC6a2, (2) promoting SNS activity and thermogenesis, and (3) regulating immunologic balance.

Acupuncture improved lipid metabolism by regulating intestinal absorption in mice

“…Furthermore, we also found more fat deposition in the intestinal epithelium with the decreased expression of some intestinal apolipoproteins in AG mice, suggesting that acupuncture may suppress lipid absorption by downregulating the expression of apolipoproteins in the small intestine, as we showed in Figure 5 . At present, the mechanism underlying the effects of acupuncture in the treatment of obesity is still not fully understood, and although some related mechanisms have been reported in other studies[ 23 , 24 ], we suggest-at least in some situations-that the inhibition of intestinal lipid absorption plays important roles in the effects of acupuncture in the treatment of obesity. In fact, acupuncture has been widely used in the treatment of obesity in the clinical setting; thus, in view of the reduced lipid absorption, proper nutritional supplementation should be considered throughout the treatment process.…”

Electroacupuncture Regulates Inguinal White Adipose Tissue Browning by Promoting Sirtuin-1-Dependent PPARγ Deacetylation and Mitochondrial Biogenesis

“…And in high-fat-dietfed rats, mitochondrial biogenesis and the copy number of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were decreased in white adipose tissues (33). In previous researches, EA can prevent obesity to induce the expression of PGC-1a both in WAT and BAT (13,34), and UCP1 expression is also remarkably elevated by EA (35,36). We formulated a hypothesis that the PGC-1a-TFAM-UCP1 pathway may contribute to the induction of WAT-browning by EA treatment.…”

Electroacupuncture Alleviates Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy by Regulating Glycolipid-Related GLO/AGEs/RAGE Axis

“…The rats in the EA group were anesthetized by inhaled isoflurane (4-5% for induction and 1-2% for maintenance) and placed on a heating pad to maintain body temperature. EA was performed with a continuous-wave stimulation for 20 min, with an alternating frequency of 2/15 Hz and a current of 2 mA ( 23 , 25 ). A pair of non-insulated steel acupuncture needles (0.18 mm in diameter, 10 mm in length) were inserted at a depth of 3 mm on ST25 (Tianshu, locating 5 mm laterally to the intersection between the upper 2/3 and the lower 1/3 in the line joining the xiphoid process and the upper border of the pubic symphysis), and the needles were connected to the output terminals of the EA instrument (LH402A; Beijing Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd).…”

“…The rats in the EA group were anesthetized by inhaled isoflurane (4-5% for induction and 1-2% for maintenance) and placed on a heating pad to maintain body temperature. EA was performed with a continuous-wave stimulation for 20 min, with an alternating frequency of 2/15 Hz and a current of 2 mA (23,25).…”

“…ST25-EA stimulation was confirmed to regulate the activity of glucose-inhibited neurons and improve the disorder of lipid metabolism ( 23 ). Our previous research showed that the positive effect on obesity mediated by ST25-EA stimulation was probably associated with the promotion of mitochondrial biogenesis and the regulation of immunologic balance ( 24 , 25 ). Additionally, ST25 was confirmed to relieve various forms of pain including visceral hyperalgesia and cancer pain ( 26 – 28 ).…”