ABSTRACT
Transplantation with neural stem cells (NSCs) is a promising clinical therapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the final fate of grafted NSCs is mainly determined by the host microenvironment. Therefore, this study investigated the role of Sanjiao acupuncture in the NSCs-treated hippocampus of a mouse model, senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) using Western blot, real-time fluorescent PCR, and immunofluorescence techniques. Meanwhile, we developed a co-culture model of hippocampal tissue specimens and NSCs in vitro, to observe the effects of acupuncture on survival, proliferation and differentiation of grafted NSCs using flow cytometry. Results showed that acupuncture pre- and post-NSCs transplantation significantly improved senescence-induced cognitive dysfunction (P < 0.05); upregulated the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (P < 0.05); and also increased the count of neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN)- and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells (P < 0.05). Therapeutic acupuncture may regulate the cytokine levels associated with survival, proliferation, and differentiation of NSCs in hippocampal microenvironment, to promote the repair of damaged cells, resulting in improved cognitive performance in mice.
Subject(s)
Acupuncture Therapy , Alzheimer Disease/therapy , Cell Differentiation/drug effects , Hippocampus , Neural Stem Cells/cytology , Acupuncture Therapy/methods , Animals , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/pharmacology , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Coculture Techniques , Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/metabolism , Hippocampus/drug effects , Hippocampus/metabolism , Male , Mice , Neurons/metabolism , Stem Cell Transplantation/methodsABSTRACT
Qingpeng ointment (QP) is a Chinese medicine which has been used in treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) in China. AD-like lesions were induced in BALB/c mice by repeated application of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) on shaved backs. The mice were then treated for 2 weeks with QP of different concentrations and Mometasone Furoate cream (MF), respectively. Macroscopic and microscopic changes of the skin lesions were observed after the treatment. The levels of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E, tissue interferon (IFN)- γ , and interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-17A and the levels of involucrin, filaggrin, and kallikrein7 in epidermis were measured. The results show severe dermatitis with immune profiles similar to human acute AD. A significant infiltration of CD4(+) T and mast cells was observed in dermis of lesion but inhibited by QP after a 2-week treatment with it. The production of IgE, IL-4 and the mRNA expression of IL-17A were also suppressed, but the level of IFN- γ was increased. MF suppressed all production of these cytokines and IgE. Accordingly, the mechanism of QP on AD might correlate with its ability of modulating the immune dysfunctions rather than suppressing them. It had no effect on expressions of involucrin and filaggrin, except that its vehicle decreased the level of kallikrein7.