Role of Blueberry Anthocyanin Extract in the Expression of SIRT1 and NF-κB in Rat Lens Epithelial Cells in Experimentally Induced DM.

PURPOSE: To investigate the mechanism of the protective effects of blueberry anthocyanin extract (BAE) against oxidative stress and the roles of SIRT1 and NF-κB in the pathogenesis of diabetic cataracts. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (group A) and an experimental group. The rats in the experimental group were intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg/kg). Rats with blood glucose levels ≥16.7 mmol/L were considered to have DM. The rats in the experimental group were subdivided into group B (distilled water by oral gavage: 10 ml/kg/day), group C (5% blueberry anthocyanin extract by oral gavage: 10 ml/kg/day), and group D (15% blueberry anthocyanin extract by oral gavage: 10 ml/kg/day), with 15 rats in each group. At the end of 8 weeks, some biochemical parameters, including the expression of SIRT1 and NF-κB by qRT-PCR and western blotting and the activity of SOD and GSH, were measured in lens epithelial cells (LECs). RESULTS: The lenses of the rats in the control group appeared transparent during the entire 8-week period. Four weeks following STZ injection, cataracts gradually progressed in the experimental rats. SIRT1 expression was upregulated in groups B, C and D compared to the control group. However, the expression of NF-κB decreased in the experimental groups with increasing doses of BAE (p < .05). Our study also showed that the activity of the SOD enzyme and GSH in the LECs of the rats in the experimental group increased with higher doses of BAE. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that BAE significantly delayed the progression of diabetic cataracts in rats. These effects may be due to the dose-dependent antioxidant activity of BAE, which is mediated by enhanced SOD and GSH activities, SIRT1 expression and reduced NF-κB expression. Abbreviations: SD rat: Sprague-Dawley rat; BAE: Blueberry anthocyanin extract; LECs: Lens epithelial cells; SOD: Superoxide dismutase; GSH: Glutathione; DM: Diabetes mellitus; SIRT1: Silent information regulator protein-1; STZ: Streptozotocin; PBS: Phosphate-buffered saline.

[Effect of electroacupuncture at "Sanyin" acupoints on cellular immune function in rats with chronic abacterial prostatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Sanyin" acupoints (bilateral "Jiayin" and "Zhongyin") on the cellular immune function of rats with chronic abacterial prostatitis (CAP), so as to explore its mechanism underlying relieving CAP. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, model, medication (Cernilton) and EA (n = 10 rats/group). The CAP model was made by injection of allogeneic prostatein purification liquid + Freund's complete adjuvant (1:1) and diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT) vaccine (0.5 mL). EA was applied to bilateral "Jiayin" acupoints (located at the bilateral groins at the horizontal level of the upper border of the pubic symphysis) and "Zhongyin" [the midpoint between the "Huiyin" (CV 1) and the scrotum root, punctured with filiform needle] for 20 min, once daily for two therapeutic courses (15 days/course, one day break between the two courses). Rats of the medication group were given with oral administration of Cernilton (13 mg/kg) once daily for 15 days. Following killing the rats under deep anesthesia, the prostate wet weight, and prostate index (prostate weight/body weight) were determined. Pathological changes of the prostate tissue were examined by light microscope after sectioning and haematoxylin (HE) staining. Plasma levels of CD4+ Th- and CD8+ T-lymphocytes were assayed with flow cytometry. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the morphological structure of prostate tissues of rats in the model group was severely damaged (proliferation of the prostate epithelium and inflammatory cell infilitration), which was relatively milder in the EA group. The plasma CD4+ level and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were significantly lower in the model group than in the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, plasma CD4+ levels were significantly increased in both medication and EA groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the CD4+ level of the EA group was considerably higher than that of the medication group (P < 0.05). The ratio of CD4+/CD8+ in the EA group was remarkably higher than that in the model group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found among the four groups in the prostate weight, prostate index and plasma CD8+ levels (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA stimulation of "Sanyin" points is beneficial to relieve chronic abacterial prostatitis, which may contribute to its effect in strengthening the cellular immune function via upregulation of plasma CD4+ and CD4+/ CD8+ levels.

[Decreasing effect of electro-acupuncture at Sanyin points on inflammatory cytokines in autoimmune prostatitis rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of inflammatory cytokines in autoimmune prostatitis (AIP) rats treated by electro-acupuncture (EA) at Sanyin points. METHODS: We selected 40 Wistar male rats in this study, 10 as normal controls, and the other 30 made AIP models by intradermal injection of protein purification liquid from the prostate of allogeneic male rats with dual immune adjuvant. Then we randomly divided the AIP models into a model, a Cernilton control and an EA group of equal number, the latter two groups treated by Cernilton enema and EA, respectively. After 15 days of treatment, all the animals were sacrificed for detection of the levels of TNF-alpha, iNOS, MDA and T-AOC in the prostate tissue. RESULTS: Compared with the normal controls, the model rats showed significantly elevated TNF-alpha expression ([15.31 +/- 1.36] vs [32.20 +/- 1.65] pg/ml, P < 0.01), iNOS activity ([0.81 +/- 0.33] vs [1.25 +/- 0.23] U/ml, P < 0.01) and MDA content ([0.66 +/- 0.14] vs [0.91 +/- 0.21] nmol/ml, P < 0.05), but markedly reduced T-AOC activity ([1.56 +/- 0.16] vs [1.11 +/- 0.15] U/ml, P < 0.01). In comparison with the model group, the EA group exhibited significantly reduced levels of TNF-alpha ([17.32 +/- 2.69 ] pg/ml, P < 0.01), iNOS ([0.98 +/- 0.5 ] U/ml, P < 0.05) and MDA ([0.70 +/- 0.20] nmol/ml, P < 0.05), but remarkably increased level of T-AOC ([1.44 +/- 0.26] U/ml, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Electro-acupuncture at Sanyin points can protect the prostate tissue from morphological damage and reduce inflammatory reaction by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokine activity, vascular permeability and inflammatory cell infiltration and increasing the activity of the antioxidant defense system.