Effects of electroacupuncture on central insulin signal transduction-related proteins in insulin resistance model rats via the mTORC1/S6K1 pathway
Objective: To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression and phosphorylation of insulin signal transduction-related proteins in the hypothalamus of insulin resistance (IR) rats. Methods: There were totally seventy-five Wistar rats. Ten rats were randomly assigned to the Nor...
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | World Journal of Acupuncture - Moxibustion |
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| author | Xiu-feng GU Jing-zhi WANG Ming KONG Li CHEN Jie SONG Tao QU |
| author_facet | Xiu-feng GU Jing-zhi WANG Ming KONG Li CHEN Jie SONG Tao QU |
| author_sort | Xiu-feng GU |
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| description | Objective: To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression and phosphorylation of insulin signal transduction-related proteins in the hypothalamus of insulin resistance (IR) rats. Methods: There were totally seventy-five Wistar rats. Ten rats were randomly assigned to the Normal group (N).The remaining 65 rats were fed a high-fat diet, fifty successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into the Model (M), EA, Sham EA (S+EA), l-leucine (L), and l-leucine + EA (L+EA) groups, with 10 rats in each group.EA was applied at acupoints “Guanyuan (CV 4)”, “Zhongwan (CV 12)”, “Zusanli (ST 36)”, and “Fenglong (ST 40)”, with each session lasting 10 min, three times per week for 8 weeks. The S+EA group received needle insertion to a depth of ≤2 mm without electrical stimulation, with the same treatment duration and same acupoint selection. Body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and insulin sensitivity (glucose infusion rate, GIR) were measured. Western blot analysis was used to assess insulin receptor substrate-1(IRS-1) , (Protein kinase B)Akt, glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β),mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1(mTORC1), and Ribosomal S6 kinase 1(S6K1), along with their phosphorylated forms. PCR was used to evaluate mRNA expression of IRS-1, Akt, and GSK-3β. Immunofluorescence was used to detect hypothalamic Akt localization. Results: (1) Compared to the N group, the M group exhibited increased body weight, FBG, and phosphorylation of GSK-3β, mTORC1, and S6K1, with decreased GIR, IRS-1, Akt phosphorylation, and mRNA expression (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (2) Compared to the M group, the EA and S+EA groups showed reduced body weight, FBG, GSK-3β, mTORC1, and S6K1 phosphorylation, with increased GIR, IRS-1, Akt phosphorylation, and mRNA expression (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (3) Compared to the EA group, the S+EA group had higher body weight, GSK-3β phosphorylation, and mRNA expression, with reduced p-IRS-1 and p-Akt expression (P < 0.05); the L and L+EA groups showed increased GSK-3β, mTORC1, and S6K1 phosphorylation, with decreased GIR, IRS-1, and Akt mRNA expression (P < 0.05). (4) Compared to the L+EA group, the L group exhibited higher GSK-3β, mTORC1, and S6K1 phosphorylation, with lower GIR, Akt mRNA, and p-Akt expression (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Conclusion: EA positively influences body weight, glucose-lipid metabolism, and insulin sensitivity in IR rats, with regulatory effects on central insulin signal transduction-related proteins, potentially linked to its suppression of hypothalamic mTORC1/S6K1 pathway activity. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1003-5257 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-fd60e66f4fb849a18ad9f531565eebce2025-08-20T04:02:31ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.World Journal of Acupuncture - Moxibustion1003-52572025-07-0135326226810.1016/j.wjam.2025.06.007Effects of electroacupuncture on central insulin signal transduction-related proteins in insulin resistance model rats via the mTORC1/S6K1 pathwayXiu-feng GU0Jing-zhi WANG1Ming KONG2Li CHEN3Jie SONG4Tao QU5Hubei University of Chinese Medicine Wuhan 430061, China (湖北中医药大学, 武汉 430061, 中国)Hubei University of Chinese Medicine Wuhan 430061, China (湖北中医药大学, 武汉 430061, 中国); College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine Wuhan 430061, China (湖北中医药大学针灸骨伤学院, 武汉 430061, 中国); Hubei Shizhen Laboratory Wuhan 430061, China (湖北时珍实验室, 武汉 430061, 中国); Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion in Disease Prevention and Treatment Wuhan 430061, China (针灸治未病湖北省协同创新中心, 武汉 430061, 中国); Corresponding author.Hubei University of Chinese Medicine Wuhan 430061, China (湖北中医药大学, 武汉 430061, 中国); College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine Wuhan 430061, China (湖北中医药大学针灸骨伤学院, 武汉 430061, 中国)Hubei University of Chinese Medicine Wuhan 430061, China (湖北中医药大学, 武汉 430061, 中国); College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine Wuhan 430061, China (湖北中医药大学针灸骨伤学院, 武汉 430061, 中国); Hubei Shizhen Laboratory Wuhan 430061, China (湖北时珍实验室, 武汉 430061, 中国); Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion in Disease Prevention and Treatment Wuhan 430061, China (针灸治未病湖北省协同创新中心, 武汉 430061, 中国)Hubei University of Chinese Medicine Wuhan 430061, China (湖北中医药大学, 武汉 430061, 中国)Hubei University of Chinese Medicine Wuhan 430061, China (湖北中医药大学, 武汉 430061, 中国); College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine Wuhan 430061, China (湖北中医药大学针灸骨伤学院, 武汉 430061, 中国)Objective: To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression and phosphorylation of insulin signal transduction-related proteins in the hypothalamus of insulin resistance (IR) rats. Methods: There were totally seventy-five Wistar rats. Ten rats were randomly assigned to the Normal group (N).The remaining 65 rats were fed a high-fat diet, fifty successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into the Model (M), EA, Sham EA (S+EA), l-leucine (L), and l-leucine + EA (L+EA) groups, with 10 rats in each group.EA was applied at acupoints “Guanyuan (CV 4)”, “Zhongwan (CV 12)”, “Zusanli (ST 36)”, and “Fenglong (ST 40)”, with each session lasting 10 min, three times per week for 8 weeks. The S+EA group received needle insertion to a depth of ≤2 mm without electrical stimulation, with the same treatment duration and same acupoint selection. Body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and insulin sensitivity (glucose infusion rate, GIR) were measured. Western blot analysis was used to assess insulin receptor substrate-1(IRS-1) , (Protein kinase B)Akt, glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β),mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1(mTORC1), and Ribosomal S6 kinase 1(S6K1), along with their phosphorylated forms. PCR was used to evaluate mRNA expression of IRS-1, Akt, and GSK-3β. Immunofluorescence was used to detect hypothalamic Akt localization. Results: (1) Compared to the N group, the M group exhibited increased body weight, FBG, and phosphorylation of GSK-3β, mTORC1, and S6K1, with decreased GIR, IRS-1, Akt phosphorylation, and mRNA expression (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (2) Compared to the M group, the EA and S+EA groups showed reduced body weight, FBG, GSK-3β, mTORC1, and S6K1 phosphorylation, with increased GIR, IRS-1, Akt phosphorylation, and mRNA expression (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (3) Compared to the EA group, the S+EA group had higher body weight, GSK-3β phosphorylation, and mRNA expression, with reduced p-IRS-1 and p-Akt expression (P < 0.05); the L and L+EA groups showed increased GSK-3β, mTORC1, and S6K1 phosphorylation, with decreased GIR, IRS-1, and Akt mRNA expression (P < 0.05). (4) Compared to the L+EA group, the L group exhibited higher GSK-3β, mTORC1, and S6K1 phosphorylation, with lower GIR, Akt mRNA, and p-Akt expression (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Conclusion: EA positively influences body weight, glucose-lipid metabolism, and insulin sensitivity in IR rats, with regulatory effects on central insulin signal transduction-related proteins, potentially linked to its suppression of hypothalamic mTORC1/S6K1 pathway activity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1003525725000467ElectroacupunctureInsulin resistanceHypothalamusMtorc1/s6k1 pathway |
| spellingShingle | Xiu-feng GU Jing-zhi WANG Ming KONG Li CHEN Jie SONG Tao QU Effects of electroacupuncture on central insulin signal transduction-related proteins in insulin resistance model rats via the mTORC1/S6K1 pathway World Journal of Acupuncture - Moxibustion Electroacupuncture Insulin resistance Hypothalamus Mtorc1/s6k1 pathway |
| title | Effects of electroacupuncture on central insulin signal transduction-related proteins in insulin resistance model rats via the mTORC1/S6K1 pathway |
| title_full | Effects of electroacupuncture on central insulin signal transduction-related proteins in insulin resistance model rats via the mTORC1/S6K1 pathway |
| title_fullStr | Effects of electroacupuncture on central insulin signal transduction-related proteins in insulin resistance model rats via the mTORC1/S6K1 pathway |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of electroacupuncture on central insulin signal transduction-related proteins in insulin resistance model rats via the mTORC1/S6K1 pathway |
| title_short | Effects of electroacupuncture on central insulin signal transduction-related proteins in insulin resistance model rats via the mTORC1/S6K1 pathway |
| title_sort | effects of electroacupuncture on central insulin signal transduction related proteins in insulin resistance model rats via the mtorc1 s6k1 pathway |
| topic | Electroacupuncture Insulin resistance Hypothalamus Mtorc1/s6k1 pathway |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1003525725000467 |
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