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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >

2024 , Vol. 44 >Issue 4: 762 - 769

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20240515.002

Original articles

Tuina alleviates neuropathic pain through regulate the activation of microglia and the secretion of inflammatory cytokine in spinal cord

  • Zhiwei WU ,
  • Qingguang ZHU ,
  • Lingjun KONG ,
  • Pengfei SONG ,
  • Xin ZHOU ,
  • Guangxin GUO ,
  • Shuaipan ZHANG ,
  • Tianxiang HE ,
  • Yanbin CHENG ,
  • Min FANG
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  • 1 Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China
    2 Institute of Tuina, Shanghai Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China
    3 Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200021, China
    4 Department of Acupuncture and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China

Received date: 2023-02-23

  Accepted date: 2023-07-14

  Online published: 2024-05-15

Supported by

National Natural Science Foundation of China: Study on the Mechanism of Tuina Inhibiting the Spinal Cord Central Sensitization of Neuropathic Pain through Regulates Interleukin-10/β-Endorphin Pathway in Spinal Microglia(82205302);Study on the Mechanism of Peripheral and Central Pain in Lumbar disc herniation with Nerve Injury and the Analgesia Mechanism of Tuina(82030121);Shanghai Sailing Program: Study on the Analgesic Mechanism of Tuina Inhibiting Spinal Cord Central Sensitization based on Microglia and Related Pro-inflammatory Factors(20YF1450900);Science Foundation of Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine: Study on the Mechanism of Tuina Analgesia based on Spinal Cord Microglia and Inflammatory Factors(2021yygq03)

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To observe the analgesic effects of Tuina on neuropathic pain (NPP) and the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS: Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were assigned by random into three treatment groups: sham, chronic constriction injury (CCI), and Tuina. Each group contained sixteen rats. CCI model was generated by ligating the right sciatic nerve. Behavioral changes of CCI were assessed by the paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) and paw withdrawal latency (PWL). In addition, biochemical techniques such as immunofluorescence staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting were used to profile levels of microglia activation and inflammatory factors in the spinal dorsal horn (SDH) of rats. Tuina (clockwise pressing and rubbing) was performed at Chengshan (BL57) to observe the analgesic effects on CCI rats and the underlying mechanisms.

RESULTS: Rats with CCI experienced significant reduction in the PWT and PWL of the right hind paw relative to CCI group at day 3. Tuina treatment rescued this situation significantly on days 10 and 14. Besides, Iba-1, microglia M1 receptor CD68, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were higher in the right SDH for CCI group compared to the sham group on day 14. As expected, Tuina partially downregulated the CCI-induced overexpressed Iba-1, CD68, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the SDH of CCI model.

CONCLUSION: Tuina induces a time-dependent cumulative analgesic effect in CCI rats by inhibiting the activation of microglia and the secretion of IL-1β and TNF-α in SDH.

Key words： Tuina; neuralgia; microglia; inflammatory cytokine; spinal cord

Cite this article

Zhiwei WU , Qingguang ZHU , Lingjun KONG , Pengfei SONG , Xin ZHOU , Guangxin GUO , Shuaipan ZHANG , Tianxiang HE , Yanbin CHENG , Min FANG . Tuina alleviates neuropathic pain through regulate the activation of microglia and the secretion of inflammatory cytokine in spinal cord[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2024 , 44(4) : 762 -769 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20240515.002

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