Affiliation:
1. Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China
2. Jiangsu Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China
Abstract
Background. The role of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) in the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on visceral hypersensitivity (VH) in postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) has yet to be elucidated. Aim. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the analgesic effect of EA in a rat model of PI-IBS. Methods. Visceral hypersensitivity was evaluated by the abdominal withdrawal reflex test before and after administration of the PAR2 agonist, PAR2-AP, and/or EA. The protein expression and mRNA levels of PAR2, CGRP, SP, and TPSP in colon tissues were measured by immunofluorescence, western blot, and RT-PCR. Results. We found that EA could alleviate VH and significantly decrease protein and mRNA levels of PAR2, TPSP, CGRP, and SP in PI-IBS rats. The analgesic effect of EA on VH was slightly reduced in the presence of PAR2-AP. Conclusions. These results suggest that EA alleviates VH symptoms through downregulation of the levels of the TPSP/PAR2/SP/CGRP signaling axis in colon tissues in PI-IBS rats. Together, our data suggests that PAR2 plays a critical role in the analgesic effect of EA on VH in PI-IBS.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Subject
Complementary and alternative medicine
Cited by
8 articles.
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