Effect Of The EGFR And ERK Signaling Transduction Mechanism In Gastric Mucosal Cell Activated By Electroacupuncture At The Acupoints Of Foot-Yangming Meridian In Rats

Objective:Guided by the meridian and viscera relation theory, to observe the electroacupuncture’s healing effect on gastric mucosa lesion, EGFR and related signaling molecular ERK, c-myc gene expression in gastric mucosa cell, and to reveal the related material foundation on the theory "A relative between Foot-Yangming meridian and stomach" and the signal transductional approach of acupuncture-related gastric mucosal protective effect.Methods:Water-immersion and restrained stress methods was adopted for stress-induced gastric mucosa lesion rat model, following that it was respectively to detect:Gastric mucosa lesion index; changes of microstructure histopathologic gastric mucosal tissue; the EGFR expression on gastric mucosal cell was tested by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay(RT-PCR) methods; ERK phosphorylation in gastric mucosal cell was tested by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting methods; the c-myc gene expression was tested in gastric mucosal cell by RT-PCR. Results:1, Compared with Normal group, the increase of the gastric mucosa lesion index in Model group rats was significant (P<0.01). In both the Stomach meridian group and Gallbladder meridian group, compared with Model group, the reduction of the gastric mucosa lesion index and the rehabilitation of microstructure of gastric mucosal tissue in stress-induced rats were more evident (P<0.01). Furthermore, the effect of electroacupuncture at Foot-Yangming Meridian acupoints were better than that of electroacupuncture at Foot-Shaoyang Meridian acupoints(P<0.01).2, Compared with 1/10 Stomach meridian serum group, the EGFR proteinic expression on the gastric mucosal cell in the 1/2,1/5 and 1/20 Stomach meridian serum group were more attenuated; The sequence of the EGFR proteinic expression among the groups were as follows:1/10 Stomach meridan serum group> 1/20 Stomach meridan serum group> 1/5 Stomach meridan serum group > 1/2 Stomach meridan serum group.3, In both Stomach meridian group and Gallbladder meridian group, compared with the Normal group or Model group, the EGFR proteinic and gene expression on the gastric mucosal cell were more reinforcement (P<0.01).Furthermore, the effects in Stomach meridian group were more obvious than that in Gallbladder meridian group(P<0.05). 4, In both Stomach meridian group and Gallbladder meridian group, compared with the Normal group or Model group, the ERK phosphorylation and the c-myc gene expression in the gastric mucosal cell were more reinforcement (P<0.01). Furthermore, the effects in Stomach meridian group were more obvious than those in Gallbladder meridian group(P<0.01). Compared with Stomach meridian group, the reduction of the ERK phosphorylation and the c-myc gene expression in Stomach meridian+PD153035 group were more significant (P<0.01).Conclusions:1,Electroacupuncture at the acupoints of the Stomach Meridian could have repairing effect on gastric mucosal lesion in stress-induced rats. There is a relative particularity between Foot-Yangming meridian and stomach.2, The different diluted serum derived from the stress-induced rats treated with electroacupuncture at the acupoints of Foot-Yangming meridian could accelerate the EGFR expression on gastric mucous cell, and there was the correlation of density and effect, compared with the EGFR expression,1/10 stomach meridan serum group brought about the optimal expression.3, The serum derived from the stress-induced rats treated with electroacupuncture at the acupoints of Foot-Yangming meridian could accelerate the EGFR proteinic and gene expression, and EGFR is the important material basis of "relative particulariy between Foot-Yangming meridian and stomach. 4, The serum derived from the stress-induced rats treated with electroacupuncture at the acupoints of Foot-Yangming meridian could accelerate the ERK phosphorylation and the c-myc gene expression in gastric mucous cell, and the above effects could be attenuated by the PD153035 which is EGFR blocking agent. ERK and c-myc are the important material basis of "relative particulariy between Foot-Yangming meridian and stomach.5, Thus it indicates that the signaling transduction pathway of the electroacupuncture’s healing effect on gastric mucosa lesion is by the approach of EGFR and ERK signaling transduction pathway.6, It should to have further study of the effect and mechanism of acupuncture by the means of acupuncture serum’s reaction on isolated cell, tissure and organ.