Spinal Tuina Improves Cognitive Impairment in Cerebral Palsy Rats through Inhibiting Pyroptosis Induced by NLRP3 and Caspase-1

Abstract

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a severe cerebral disease with high mortality and morbidity, which leads to great challenges for the suffering children and their families. Hence, the need for the efficacious and safe treatments is urgent. As a physical therapy arising from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Tuina has shown multiple effects on various diseases, including cerebral palsy. Nevertheless, the detailed mechanisms of Tuina on CP remain unknown, which impedes its further clinical application. Herein, we explored the effects of Tuina on CP and its potential mechanisms. Thirty Sprague Dawley (SD) male rats were randomly divided into sham, model, and Tuina groups (model + Tuina). CP rat model was established by hypoxia-ischemia via permanent occlusion of left common carotid artery and hypoxia for 2.5 hours caused by anaerobic environment, which was subsequently followed by onset of Tuina treatment from postnatal day 7 (P7) to P49. After completion of Tuina treatment, the behavioral tests showed that Tuina treatment not only improved the retarded body weight and impaired motor balance function, but also ameliorated weakened learning and memory function of CP rats. Moreover, immunohistochemistry and western blot also revealed a reduced expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and corresponding pyroptosis-related molecules induced by NLRP3 in CP rats after Tuina treatment. Therefore, our study indicated that Tuina treatment may improve impaired neurocognitive function of CP rats, which was possibly realised via inhibiting NLRP3-induced pyroptosis.

Effects of traditional Chinese medicine combined with modern rehabilitation therapies on motor function in children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…TCM treatments, which include massage, acupuncture, herbs, and Qigong, have been practiced in the treatment of CP for a long time. One study showed that TCM may improve the posture balance and cognition of rats with CP ( Niu et al, 2021 ). Increased secretion of dopamine, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and nerve growth factor were discovered after stimulations on the meridian in rats, which helped repair neuronal damage ( Chuang et al, 2007 ; Tao et al, 2016 ).…”

Paroxetine attenuates osteoarthritis progression by regulating chondrocyte pyroptosis and inhibiting osteoclast formation

“…It is characterized by cell swelling and rupture, cell membrane lysis, cytoplasmic content release into the extracellular compartment, and chromosomal DNA breakage [12,13]. The most commonly activated pathway of heat-induced death is mediated by the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) in ammasome, which consists of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated spot-like protein containing CARD (ASC), and pro-caspase 1 [14,15]. In this activation pathway, NLRP3 is activated in response to intra-and extracellular stimuli, which results in the recruitment of ASC, the binding of ASC to pro-caspase 1, and the assembly of the NLRP3 in ammasome [16].…”