针刺研究2024，Vol.49Issue(6)：566-576,11.DOI:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20240101
基于Wnt/β-catenin通路介导的上皮间质转化探讨电针治疗宫腔粘连大鼠子宫内膜纤维化的作用机制
Mechanism of electroacupuncture in treating uterine endometrial fibrosis in intrauterine adhesions rats based on Wnt/β-catenin pathway-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition
摘要
Abstract
Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)-related proteins in rats with intrauterine adhesions(IUA),so as to explore the possible mechanisms of EA in repairing endometrial damage in IUA.Methods Female SD rats were randomly divided into blank,model,EA,and ICG-001 groups,with 10 rats in each group.The IUA model was established by using mechanical scraping combined with lipopolysaccharide infection for double injury.In the EA group,"Guanyuan"(CV4)was needled and EA(2 Hz/15 Hz,1-2 mA)was applied to"Zusanli"(ST36)and"Sanyinjiao"(SP6)on both sides.In the ICG-001 group,ICG-001(5 mg/kg),the inhibitor of β-catenin was intraperitoneally injected.After intervention,samples were taken from 5 rats in each group,and uterine endometrium morphology,endometrial thickness,and gland counts were observed using HE staining.Masson staining was used to assess the degree of fibrosis in the endometrial tissue.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the positive expression of transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1),α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),fibronectin(FN),connective tissue growth factor(CTGF),type I collagen(Col-Ⅰ),glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β),β-catenin,E-cadherin,N-cadherin,and Vimentin in the endometrial tissue.Western blot was used to detect the relative expression of GSK-3β,β-catenin,E-cadherin,N-cadherin,and Vimentin proteins in the endometrial tissue.Another 5 rats from each group were placed in cages with male rats after intervention to record the number of embryo implantations.Results Necrosis and loss of endometrial tissue in the model group observed after HE staining were alleviated in the EA group,better than those in the ICG-001 group.Compared with the blank group,the numbers of glands and endometrial thickness in the uterine endometrial tissue,relative expression and positive expression of E-cadherin and GSK-3β proteins in the uterine endometrial tissue,and embryo implantation numbers were reduced(P<0.000 1,P<0.001,P<0.01)in the model group,while fibrosis area ratio in the uterine endometrial tissue,TGF-β 1,α-SMA,FN,CTGF,Col-Ⅰ positive expressions,N-cadherin,Vimentin,and β-catenin proteins expression and positive expression were increased(P<0.000 1,P<0.001,P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the number of glands and endometrial thickness,E-cadherin and GSK-3β proteins expression and positive expression,and embryo implantation numbers were increased(P<0.001,P<0.05,P<0.01)in the EA and ICG-001 groups,while the fibrosis area ratio in the uterine endometrial tissue,TGF-β1,α-SMA,FN,CTGF,Col-Ⅰ positive expression,and N-cadherin,Vimentin,and β-catenin proteins expression and positive expression were decreased(P<0.001,P<0.01,P<0.05).Compared with the EA group,the differences of the above-mentioned indicators in the ICG-001 group were not statistically significant.Conclusion EA may reverse the EMT process and reduce the degree of fibrosis in endometrial tissue by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,thereby promoting the repair of endometrial damage in IUA.关键词
宫腔粘连/电针/子宫内膜纤维化/Wnt/β-连环蛋白通路/上皮间质转化Key words
Intrauterine adhesions/Electroacupuncture/Endometrial fibrosis/Wnt/β-catenin pathway/Epithelial-mesenchymal transition引用本文复制引用
李军威,夏良君,崔础婷,程洁,夏有兵..基于Wnt/β-catenin通路介导的上皮间质转化探讨电针治疗宫腔粘连大鼠子宫内膜纤维化的作用机制[J].针刺研究,2024,49(6):566-576,11.基金项目
国家自然科学基金项目(No.82205251、82274638) （No.82205251、82274638）
江苏省高校自然科学研究重大项目(No.23KJA360006) （No.23KJA360006）
江苏省研究生科研创新计划(No.KYCX23_2151) （No.KYCX23_2151）
