Effects of electroacupuncture on DNA methylation of the TREM2 gene in senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 mice.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To explore the mechanism by which electroacupuncture (EA) upregulates triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) protein in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease (AD) model animals from the perspective of TREM2 DNA methylation.

METHODS:

In total, 24 eight-month-old senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice were divided into an (untreated) AD group (n = 8), donepezil group (receiving donepezil treatment, n = 8) or EA group (receiving an EA intervention, n = 8). A healthy control group comprising 8-month-old senescence-accelerated mouse resistant 1 (SAMR1) mice (n = 8) was also included. Western blotting, bisulfite sequencing, and oxidative bisulfite sequencing were applied to test the relative expression of TREM2 protein and the methylation levels of the TREM2 gene.

RESULTS:

EA significantly upregulated the relative expression of TREM2 protein (p < 0.01), downregulated the 5-methylcytosine level (p < 0.01) and upregulated the 5-hydroxymethylcytosine level (p < 0.05) in the hippocampus.

CONCLUSION:

Downregulation of 5-methylcytosine levels and upregulation of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine levels in the TREM2 gene might be the mechanism by which EA promotes the expression of TREM2 protein.

• Authors: Jing Jiang, Hao Liu, Zidong Wang, Huiling Tian, Shun Wang, Jiayi Yang, Zhigang Li
• Journal: Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society (Acupunct Med) Vol. 40 Issue 5 Pg. 463-469 (10 2022) ISSN: 1759-9873 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 35232269 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Receptors, Immunologic
• Trem2 protein, mouse
• 5-Methylcytosine
• Donepezil

Topics

• 5-Methylcytosine (metabolism)
• Alzheimer Disease (genetics, metabolism, therapy)
• Animals
• DNA Methylation (genetics)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Donepezil
• Electroacupuncture
• Hippocampus (metabolism)
• Membrane Glycoproteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Mice
• Receptors, Immunologic (genetics, metabolism)