Electroacupuncture Improving Intestinal Barrier Function in Rats with Irritable Bowel Syndrome Through Regulating Aquaporins

ConclusionEA has an inhibitory effect on the NF- κB signaling pathway, and regulates the proteins of AQP1, AQP3, AQP8, and TJs to restore the balance of water metabolism and intestinal permeability in IBS-D, which also restored the function of the intestinal mucosa by regulating the intestinal flora.Graphical AbstractIrritable bowel syndrome with predominant diarrhea (IBS-D) is a common gastrointestinal disease in clinical practice, which was affected by intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction, intestinal mucosal inflammation production and abnormal intestinal flora, then there is currently no specific drug for treating IBS-D. Electroacupuncture (EA), as a non-pharmacological therapy, has good therapeutic effects in treating IBS-D. Aquaporins (AQPs) are distributed in the intestinal mucosa of the intestine and are important factors in mediating water –liquid transmembrane transport. Changes in AQPs expression have been identified as a common factor in the etiology of certain gastrointestinal diseases. AQP1, AQP3, and AQP8 are distributed in the distal colon. EA can inhibit NF-κB signaling pathway, and regulate the proteins of AQP1, AQP3, AQP8 , and TJs to restore the balance of water metabolism and intestinal permeability in IBS-D, which also can restore the function of the intestinal mucosa by regulating the intestinal flora.
Source: Digestive Diseases and Sciences - Category: Gastroenterology Source Type: research