Langevin HM, Bouffard NA, Badger GJ, Churchill DL, Howe AK.

Acupuncture induces an active cytoskeletal response in connective tissue fibroblasts: evidence for a mechanotransduction-based mechanism.

University of Vermont, Given C423, 89 Beaumont Ave, Burlington, VT 05405. helene.langevin@uvm.edu

Acupuncture induces an active cytoskeletal response in connective tissue fibroblasts-Evidence for a mechanotransduction-based mechanism

GOAL: Connective tissue mechanotransduction was recently proposed as a mechanism for the therapeutic effect of acupuncture. We have previously shown that acupuncture needle rotation causes an active response in connective tissue fibroblasts characterized by cell spreading, lamellipodia formation and increased cross sectional area. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that this cellular response involves intracellular signaling mechanisms known to play a role in mechanotransduction.

METHODS: Mouse tissue explants (N=30) were excised immediately after death and an acupuncture needle was inserted into the subcutaneous tissue parallel to the skin. The needle was rotated for 2 revolutions followed by a thirty minute needle dwell time with or without pharmacological inhibitors. The tissue was then fixed, stained with phalloidin (a specific stain for polymerized actin) and imaged with confocal microscopy. Fibroblast cross sectional area was measured using Metamorph image analysis software.

RESULTS: Fibroblasts incubated in the presence of blebbistatin (actomyosin inhibitor), Rho kinase inhibitors (Y-27632 and H-1152) and Rac 1 inhibitor had a significantly smaller mean cell body cross sectional area compared with controls without inhibitors (Fisher's LSD, p <.05) In contrast, fibroblasts incubated with rotation in the presence of JNK-2 inhibitor were not significantly different from controls.

CONCLUSION: The increase in fibroblast cross-sectional area induced by acupuncture needle rotation was prevented by inhibition of actomyosin contractility as well as Rho and Rac signaling, but not JNK-2, signaling. These results shown that the cellular response to acupuncture needle rotation involves active cytoskeletal reorganization and supports our previously proposed model for the mechanism of acupuncture involving connective tissue mechanotransduction. This study was funded by NCCAM research grant RO1-AT01121.

 

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