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Acupuncture Reduces Hypertrophy and Cardiac Fibrosis, and Improves Heart Function in Mice with Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

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Abstract

Purpose

To assess the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) on glycemic control, myocardial inflammation, and the progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy in mice with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Db/Db mice received EA at PC6+ST36 (DM-Acu), non-acupoint simulation (DM-Sham), or no treatment (DM). EA was applied for 30 min per day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Heart function was assessed by echocardiography. Myocardium was assessed by RT-PCR, immunoblotting, and histology. Serum TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 were measured.

Results

DM-Acu, but not DM-Sham, reduced fasting blood glucose without affecting body weight. DM decreased systolic function. DM-Acu, but not DM-Sham, attenuated the decrease in systolic function. Heart weight was significantly smaller in the DM-Acu than in the DM and DM-Sham groups. Percent fibrosis and apoptosis were reduced in the DM-Acu, but not the DM-Sham, group. Serum levels of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, ICAM-1, MCP-1, and TNF-α were significantly lower in the DM-Acu than in the DM or DM-Sham groups. Protein levels of P-Akt and P-AMPK and mRNA levels of phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 6 (PIK3r6) were significantly higher in the DM-Acu group. Myocardial mRNA and protein levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) were significantly lower in the DM and DM-Sham groups compared with the DM-Acu group.

Conclusions

EA reduced serum glucose; prevented DM-induced hypertrophy and deterioration of systolic function, inflammation, and fibrosis; and restored IGF1R, P-Akt, and P-AMPK levels in mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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Funding

Huan Chen is sponsored by the Jiangsu Government Scholarship of Studying Abroad.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

    Yumei Ye, Steven G. Widen & Huan Chen

  2. The Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza MS, BCM620, Houston, TX, USA

    Yochai Birnbaum

  3. Department of Acupuncture, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China

    Zhaohui Zhang & Huan Chen

  4. Second Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China

    Shipeng Zhu

  5. Section of Endocrinology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Mandeep Bajaj

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  1. Yumei Ye
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Contributions

Yumei Ye, MD—Study design, performing the experiments, data analysis, writing the manuscript

Yochai Birnbaum, MD—Data analysis, statistical analysis, preparing the figures, co-writing the manuscript

Steven Widen PHD—Performing the RNA arrays and analysis of the data, editing the manuscript

Zhaohui Zhang, MD—Editing the manuscript

Shipeng Zhu, MD, PhD—Editing the manuscript

Mandeep Bajaj, MD—Editing the manuscript

Huan Chen, MD, PhD—Study design, performing the experiments, data collection, co-writing the manuscript

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yochai Birnbaum or Huan Chen.

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Conflict of Interest

Yumei Ye, MD—Investigator-initiated research grant from AstraZeneca

Yochai Birnbaum, MD—Investigator-initiated research grant from AstraZeneca

Steven Widen PHD—None

Zhaohui Zhang, MD—None

Shipeng Zhu, MD, PhD—None

Mandeep Bajaj, MD—Research grant—Novonordisk, advisory board—AstraZeneca

Huan Chen, MD, PhD—None

Ethics Approval

The experimental designs and animal care were conducted in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH Publication No. 85-23, revised 1996) and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of Texas Medical Branch.

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Ye, Y., Birnbaum, Y., Widen, S.G. et al. Acupuncture Reduces Hypertrophy and Cardiac Fibrosis, and Improves Heart Function in Mice with Diabetic Cardiomyopathy. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 34, 835–848 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10557-020-07043-4

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