The involvement of the primo vascular system in local enteritis and its modification by electroacupuncture

Abstract

IntroductionThe primo vascular system (PVS), an intensive network structure, has been claimed to be representative of the acupuncture meridian. Here, we explored the role of the PVS in local enteritis and its modification by acupuncture.MethodsChronic cecitis in rabbits was induced by 2,4,6-trinitro-benzene-sulfonic acid (TNBS). The PVS on the cecum was visualized with trypan blue staining, and collected with the help of microsurgical forceps under an optical stereomicroscope.ResultsThe increased primo vessels (PVs) and primo nodes (PNs) of the PVS on the surface of the cecum were induced by local inflammation, which was positively correlated with the inflammatory cells in the cecal mucosa. Tandem mass tag (TMT) based proteomic analysis revealed that 110 differentiated proteins of the PVS existed between TNBS-treated and control rabbits; 65 proteins were upregulated, while 45 proteins were downregulated. These proteins were mainly enriched in inflammation- and immunity-related processes, such as inflammatory cell proliferation, antigen presentation, and cell adhesion in the proliferated PVS (data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifiers PXD034280). Importantly, TNBS-induced cecitis, the proliferated PVS and inflammation response-related proteins (CD40, CD45, HLA-DRA1, LAMP1, JAGN1 and FGL1) in the PVS were alleviated or reversed by repetitive electroacupuncture (EA) stimulations.ConclusionThese results suggest that the proliferated PVS and its active inclusions were related to the inflammatory process, which was modified by EA. Our study provides a new avenue for further exploration of the mechanism by which EA exerts anti-inflammatory effects.

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“…In addition to the ostensible electrical properties of meridians, threadlike microscopic anatomical structures which correspond with the traditional acupuncture meridians were identified in the early 1960s. They have since been verified with modern staining procedures and high-resolution microscopy (Nan et al, 2023). Because this system develops earlier in the embryo than the cardiovascular, nervous, or other systems, it has been named the “primo vascular system.” Nan et al note that over the past 60 years, based on an understanding of the primo vascular system, “the physical reality of acupuncture meridians has been confirmed by electroconductivity, hydraulic conductance, acoustic wave propagation, detectible light and heat delivery, radioisotope tracing pathways, and the propagated sensation along the channel” (para.…”

“…In addition to the ostensible electrical properties of meridians, threadlike microscopic anatomical structures which correspond with the traditional acupuncture meridians were identified in the early 1960s. They have since been verified with modern staining procedures and high-resolution microscopy (Nan et al, 2023). Because this system develops earlier in the embryo than the cardiovascular, nervous, or other systems, it has been named the "primo vascular system."…”

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“…Acupuncture reversed the impairment of normal energy metabolism and used Atp5a1 and Bpnt1 as key targets. Moreover, TMT-based proteomic analysis was utilized to identify changes in protein expression in rabbit models of enteritis treated by EA, revealing that most of the identified DEPs were related to inflammatory and immune processes [ 126 ]. Among them, CD40, CD45, HLA-DRA1, LAMP1, JAGN1 and FGL1 were alleviated or reversed by EA treatment, showing that EA has significant anti-inflammatory effects.…”