Mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion in ameliorating liver injury induced by cisplatin by regulating IRE-1 signaling pathway.

Objectives: To investigate the mechanism of the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on improving liver injury in cisplatin (DDP) induced liver injury model mice by observing the changes of inositol-requiring enzyme (IRE) -1 signaling pathway.

Methods: Forty KM mice were randomly divided into control, model, acupuncture and moxibustion groups, with 10 mice in each group. The liver injury model was replicated by intraperitoneal injection of DDP (10 mg/kg). In the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group, acupuncture and moxibustion were performed at "Dazhui"(GV14), and bilateral "Ganshu"(BL18), "Shenshu" (BL23), and "Zusanli"(ST36), respectively for 6 min, once per day for 7 d. The apoptosis of hepatocytes was detected by TUNEL staining. The expression of phosphorylation(p)-IRE-1α, glucose-regulated protein (Grp) 78 and cysteine aspartic protease (Caspase) -12 in liver tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, respectively. The expression levels of Grp78 and Caspase-12 mRNA in liver tissue were detected by quantitative real-time PCR.

Results: Compared with the control group, the apoptosis rate of hepatocytes was increased (<0.05), the positive expression and protein expression of p-IRE-1α, Grp78, and Caspase-12 were increased (<0.05), the expression levels of Grp78 and Caspase-12 mRNA were increased (<0.05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, all these indicators showed opposite trends (<0.05) in the acupuncture and moxibustion groups.

Conclusions: Acupuncture and moxibustion can reduce liver injury due to DDP chemotherapy by modulating IRE-1 signaling pathway, inhibiting the excessive activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress, and reducing liver cell apoptosis.