Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (5): 1019-1027.DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2025.05.008
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Characterization of acupuncture on central amino acid metabolism based on targeted neurotransmitter analysis in mice with inflammatory pain
WANG Yue1,2, LIU Xingxing1,2, GUO Yi1,2, GUO Yongming1,2, YUAN Gongming1,2, ZHANG Yu1,2, ZHENG Zhiyu1,2, XU Yuan1,2(
), LI Yuan3()
- 1 School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
2 National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300380, China
3 College of Acupuncture and Massage Health and Rehabilitation College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
-
Received:2024-06-11Accepted:2024-11-19Online:2025-10-15Published:2025-09-15 -
Contact:Assoc. Prof. XU Yuan, School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300380, China. 183412710@qq.com;
Lec. LI Yuan, College of Acupuncture and Massage Health and Rehabilitation College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China, liyuan@njucm.edu.cn,Telephone: +86-13803090159, +86-13072057285 -
Supported by:National Natural Science Foundation of China: Study on Acupuncture Alleviate Rheumatoid Arthritis Effect and Mechanism via miR-155 Reduce Monocyte Chemokine and Chemokine Receptor Expression(82004473);Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province: Study on the Role and Mechanism of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-mediated Acupuncture in Regulating Immune Homeostasis of the Gut-joint Axis in Rheumatoid Arthritis(BK20230453)
Cite this article
WANG Yue, LIU Xingxing, GUO Yi, GUO Yongming, YUAN Gongming, ZHANG Yu, ZHENG Zhiyu, XU Yuan, LI Yuan. Characterization of acupuncture on central amino acid metabolism based on targeted neurotransmitter analysis in mice with inflammatory pain[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(5): 1019-1027.
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Figure 1 Analgesic effect of acupuncture on CFA-induced inflammatory pain A: PWTL of mice at different time points in each group; B: PWMT of mice at different time points in each group; C: Expression of PGE2 in the spinal cord. Control: control group (injected by 50 μL saline); CFA: CFA group (injected by 50 μL Complete Freund’s Adjuvant); CFA + Acu (injected by 50 μL CFA + acupuncture). PWTL: paw withdrawal thermal latency; PWMT: paw withdrawal mechanical threshold; PGE2: prostaglandin E2; ANOVA: analysis of variance. Behavioral tests were analyzed by repeated measures of variance; statistical significance between different groups was assessed using one-way ANOVA. PWTL and PWMT are presented as the mean ± standard deviation, PGE2 data is represented as mean ± standard error of mean (n = 10 per group in behavioral assessment, and n = 5 per group in PGE2 levels). aP < 0.01 versus control. bP < 0.01, cP < 0.05 versus CFA.
Figure 1 Analgesic effect of acupuncture on CFA-induced inflammatory pain A: PWTL of mice at different time points in each group; B: PWMT of mice at different time points in each group; C: Expression of PGE2 in the spinal cord. Control: control group (injected by 50 μL saline); CFA: CFA group (injected by 50 μL Complete Freund’s Adjuvant); CFA + Acu (injected by 50 μL CFA + acupuncture). PWTL: paw withdrawal thermal latency; PWMT: paw withdrawal mechanical threshold; PGE2: prostaglandin E2; ANOVA: analysis of variance. Behavioral tests were analyzed by repeated measures of variance; statistical significance between different groups was assessed using one-way ANOVA. PWTL and PWMT are presented as the mean ± standard deviation, PGE2 data is represented as mean ± standard error of mean (n = 10 per group in behavioral assessment, and n = 5 per group in PGE2 levels). aP < 0.01 versus control. bP < 0.01, cP < 0.05 versus CFA.
Figure 2 Effect of acupuncture on amino acid metabolites in the brain tissue of CFA mice A: heatmap of metabolites in each group; B: KEGG metabolic pathway in each group; C: levels of glutamine in each group; D: levels of phenylethylamine in each group; E: levels of N-acetyl serotonin in each group. Control: control group (injected by 50 μL saline); CFA: CFA group (injected by 50 μL Complete Freund’s Adjuvant); CFA + Acu (injected by 50 μL CFA + acupuncture). CFA: Complete Freund's Adjuvant; KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; ANOVA: analysis of variance. Statistical significance between different groups was assessed using one-way ANOVA. All data are represented as mean ± standard error of mean (n = 5 per group). aP < 0.05 versus control. bP < 0.05 versus CFA.
Figure 2 Effect of acupuncture on amino acid metabolites in the brain tissue of CFA mice A: heatmap of metabolites in each group; B: KEGG metabolic pathway in each group; C: levels of glutamine in each group; D: levels of phenylethylamine in each group; E: levels of N-acetyl serotonin in each group. Control: control group (injected by 50 μL saline); CFA: CFA group (injected by 50 μL Complete Freund’s Adjuvant); CFA + Acu (injected by 50 μL CFA + acupuncture). CFA: Complete Freund's Adjuvant; KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; ANOVA: analysis of variance. Statistical significance between different groups was assessed using one-way ANOVA. All data are represented as mean ± standard error of mean (n = 5 per group). aP < 0.05 versus control. bP < 0.05 versus CFA.
Figure 3 Effect of acupuncture on amino acid metabolites in the spinal cord of CFA mice A: heatmap of metabolites in each group; B: KEGG metabolic pathway in each group; C: levels of homovanillic acid in each group; D: levels of 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan in each group; E: levels of 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylethylene Glyco in each group; F: levels of serotonin in each group. Control: control group (injected by 50 μL saline); CFA: CFA group (injected by 50 μL CFA); CFA + Acu (injected by 50 μL CFA + acupuncture). Statistical significance between different groups was assessed using one-way ANOVA. CFA: Complete Freund’s Adjuvant; KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; ANOVA: analysis of variance. All data are represented as mean ± standard error of mean (n = 5 per group). aP < 0.05 versus control. bP < 0.05, cP < 0.01 versus CFA.
Figure 3 Effect of acupuncture on amino acid metabolites in the spinal cord of CFA mice A: heatmap of metabolites in each group; B: KEGG metabolic pathway in each group; C: levels of homovanillic acid in each group; D: levels of 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan in each group; E: levels of 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylethylene Glyco in each group; F: levels of serotonin in each group. Control: control group (injected by 50 μL saline); CFA: CFA group (injected by 50 μL CFA); CFA + Acu (injected by 50 μL CFA + acupuncture). Statistical significance between different groups was assessed using one-way ANOVA. CFA: Complete Freund’s Adjuvant; KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; ANOVA: analysis of variance. All data are represented as mean ± standard error of mean (n = 5 per group). aP < 0.05 versus control. bP < 0.05, cP < 0.01 versus CFA.
Figure 4 Effect of acupuncture on tryptophan metabolism and its metabolites in the spinal cord of CFA mice A: heatmap of tryptophan metabolites in each group; B: levels of L-kynurenine in each group, C: levels of indoleacetate in each group; D: levels of tryptophan in each group; E: levels of serotonin in each group. Control: control group (injected by 50 μL saline); CFA: CFA group (injected by 50 μL CFA); CFA + Acu (injected by 50 μL CFA + acupuncture). CFA: Complete Freund ’s adjuvant; KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; ANOVA: analysis of variance. Statistical significance between different groups was assessed using one-way ANOVA. All data are represented as mean ± standard error of mean (n = 5 per group). aP < 0.01, cP < 0.05 versus control; bP < 0.01, dP < 0.05 versus CFA.
Figure 4 Effect of acupuncture on tryptophan metabolism and its metabolites in the spinal cord of CFA mice A: heatmap of tryptophan metabolites in each group; B: levels of L-kynurenine in each group, C: levels of indoleacetate in each group; D: levels of tryptophan in each group; E: levels of serotonin in each group. Control: control group (injected by 50 μL saline); CFA: CFA group (injected by 50 μL CFA); CFA + Acu (injected by 50 μL CFA + acupuncture). CFA: Complete Freund ’s adjuvant; KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; ANOVA: analysis of variance. Statistical significance between different groups was assessed using one-way ANOVA. All data are represented as mean ± standard error of mean (n = 5 per group). aP < 0.01, cP < 0.05 versus control; bP < 0.01, dP < 0.05 versus CFA.
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