Acupoint catgut embedding attenuates fibromyalgia pain through attenuation of TRPV1 signaling pathway in mouse

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

2 Department of Orthopedics, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

3 Department of Orthopedics, E-Da Dachang Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

4 Department of Anesthesiology, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taichung 42743, Taiwan

5 School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 97004, Taiwan

6 Department of Nuclear Medicine, E-DA Hospital, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan

7 College of Chinese Medicine, School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan

8 College of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 404332, Taiwan

9 Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan

Abstract

Objective(s): Chronic pain is considered as pain lasting for more than three months and has emerged as a global health problem affecting individuals and society. Chronic extensive pain is the main syndrome upsetting individuals with fibromyalgia (FM), accompanied by anxiety, obesity, sleep disturbances, and depression, Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) has been reported to transduce inflammatory and pain signals to the brain.
Materials and Methods: Acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) is a novel acupuncture technique that provides continuous effects and convenience. ACE was performed at the bilateral ST36 acupoint. 
Results: We demonstrated similar pain levels among all groups at baseline. After cold stress, chronic mechanical or thermal nociception was induced (D14: mechanical: 1.85 ± 0.13 g; thermal: 4.85 ± 0.26 s) and reversed in ACE-treated mice (D14: mechanical: 3.99 ± 0.16 g; thermal: 7.42 ± 0.45 s) as well as Trpv1-/- group (Day 14, mechanical: 4.25 ± 0.2 g; thermal: 7.91 ± 0.21 s) mice. Inflammatory mediators were augmented in FM individuals and were abridged after ACE management and TRPV1 gene loss. TRPV1 and its linked mediators were increased in the thalamus (THA), somatosensory cortex (SSC), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in FM mice. The up-regulation of these mediators was diminished in ACE and Trpv1-/- groups. 
Conclusion: We suggest that chronic pain can be modulated by ACE or Trpv1-/-. ACE-induced analgesia via TRPV1 signaling pathways may be beneficial targets for FM treatment.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences
Volume 27, Issue 1
January 2024
Pages 66-73

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