Background. Clinically, electroacupuncture (EA) is the most common therapy for aging-related cognitive impairment (CI). However, the underlying pathomechanism remains unidentified. The aims of this study were to observe the effect of EA on cognitive function and explore the potential mechanism by which EA acts on the NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway. Main Methods. Thirty male SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into the model, the 2 Hz EA and 10 Hz EA groups. Ten male SAMR1 mice were assigned to the control group. Cognitive function was assessed through the Morris water maze test. Hippocampal morphology and cell death were observed by HE and TUNEL staining, respectively. The serum IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α levels were measured by ELISA. Hippocampal NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, GSDM-D, IL-1β, IL-18, Aβ, and tau proteins were detected by Western blotting. Key Findings. Cognitive function, hippocampal morphology, and TUNEL-positive cell counts were improved by both EA frequencies. The serum IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α levels were decreased by EA treatment. However, 10 Hz EA reduced the number of TUNEL-positive cells in the CA1 region and serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels more effectively than 2 Hz EA. NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway-related proteins were significantly downregulated by EA, but 2 Hz EA did not effectively reduce ASC protein expression. Interestingly, both EA frequencies failed to reduce the expression of Aβ and tau proteins. Significance. The effects of 10 Hz EA at the GV20 and ST36 acupoints on the NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway may be a mechanism by which this treatment relieves aging-related CI in mice.

中文翻译：

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电针通过 NLRP3/Caspase-1 通路改善衰老加速的 P8 (SAMP8) 小鼠的认知功能

背景。临床上，电针 (EA) 是治疗衰老相关认知障碍 (CI) 的最常见疗法。然而，潜在的病理机制仍未确定。本研究的目的是观察电针对认知功能的影响，并探讨电针作用于 NLRP3/caspase-1 信号通路的潜在机制。主要方法。30 只雄性 SAMP8 小鼠随机分为模型、2 Hz EA 和 10 Hz EA 组。十只雄性 SAMR1 小鼠被分配到对照组。通过莫里斯水迷宫测试评估认知功能。分别通过 HE 和 TUNEL 染色观察海马形态和细胞死亡。血清 IL- 1β、IL-6、IL-18 和 TNF- α通过ELISA测量水平。海马NLRP3，ASC，胱天蛋白酶-1，GSDM-d，IL-1 β，IL-18，A β，和tau蛋白通过Western印迹法检测。主要发现。认知功能、海马形态和 TUNEL 阳性细胞计数均通过两种 EA 频率得到改善。EA 治疗降低了血清 IL- 1β、IL-6、IL-18 和 TNF- α水平。然而，10 Hz EA 减少了 CA1 区域和血清 IL-1 β中 TUNEL 阳性细胞的数量和 IL-6 水平比 2 Hz EA 更有效。NLRP3/caspase-1 通路相关蛋白被 EA 显着下调，但 2 Hz EA 并未有效降低 ASC 蛋白表达。有趣的是，两种 EA 频率都未能降低 A β和 tau 蛋白的表达。意义。GV20 和 ST36 穴位的 10 Hz EA 对 NLRP3/caspase-1 信号通路的影响可能是这种治疗减轻小鼠衰老相关 CI 的机制。