[Involvement of miR-126-3p via mTOR/HIF-1α signaling pathway in effect of electroacupuncture on angiogenesis in rats with cerebral ischemia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on miRNA-126-3p and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) signaling pathway in rats with cerebral ischemia (CI), so as to explore the underlying mechanism of EA on angiogenesis. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, EA group and EA+inhibitor group (inhibitor group), which were further divided into 3, 7 and 14 d subgroups, with 12 rats in each sub-group. The CI model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. EA (2 Hz/20 Hz, 0.5 mA) was applied to "Dazhui" (GV14), "Baihui" (GV20) for 20 min, once daily for 14 days at most. Rats of the inhibitor group were given an intraperitoneally injection of mTOR inhibitor (0.1 mg/mL, 0.3 mg/kg) before daily EA. The neurological function was evaluated by modified neurological severity score (mNSS). The ultrastructure of cortical neurons and microvascular endothelial cells in ischemic penumbra was observed by transmission electron microscope, and the microvessel density (MVD) of cortical endothelium in ischemic penumbra was detected by immunohistochemistry. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of mTOR, HIF-1α and the expression of miR-126-3p in the cortex of ischemic penumbra, respectively. RESULTS: <0.05) in the inhibitor group. CONCLUSION: EA at GV14 and GV20 can alleviate neurological deficit and improve angiogenesis in rats with CI, which may be related with its effect in up-regulating the expression of mTOR and HIF-1α, improving activation of miR-126-3p in the cortex of ischemic penumbra.