Acupressure bladder meridian alleviates anxiety disorder via HMGB1

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acupressure bladder meridian (ABM) on anxiety in rats with chronic stress. Methods: The sugar water preference (SPF), tail suspension time (TST) and forced swimming time (FST) of rats were measured. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), myeloperoxidase (MPO) in hippocampus tissue, oxidative stress parameters and inflammatory cytokines were detected. Underlying mechanisms of ABM on anxiety were detected. lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated PC12 cells were adopted in vitro. HMGB1 knockdown were used in PC12 cells, and related signaling was further detected. Results: ABM significantly increased SPF, decreased TST and FST. ABM decreased ROS, MPO levels, decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, ABM decreased the levels of oxidative stress index. ABM reduced the expression of inflammation-related proteins mediated by HMGB1, increased nuclear factor erythroid2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) and hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1). In vitro PC12 cells, Rat serum (RS-ABM) treated with ABM significantly decreased LPS induced inflammation-related proteins and increased Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway. HMGB1 knockdown inhibited LPS-induced PC12 cell inflammatory signaling pathway and increased Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that ROS-dependent HMGB1 plays an important role in anxiety, and ABM exhibits inhibited inflammation in anxiety.