Acupuncture elicits neuroprotective effect by inhibiting NAPDH oxidase-mediated reactive oxygen species production in cerebral ischaemia
Authors: Xue-Rui Wang
Jing-Wen Yang
Si-Qi Du
Cun-Zhi Liu
Tian He
Chao-Qun Yan
Qian Xu
Wen Zhu
Guang-Xia Shi
Xiang-Hong Zeng
Journal: Scientific Reports (2015)
Discipline: Multidisciplinary
Keywords: NADPH oxidase; acupuncture; cognitive impairment; cerebral ischaemia; antioxidant effect
Affiliations: Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China.

Abstract:  In the current study, we aimed to investigate whether NADPH oxidase, a major ROS-producing enzyme, was involved in the antioxidant effect of acupuncture on cognitive impairment after cerebral ischaemia. The cognitive function, infract size, neuron cell loss, level of superoxide anion and expression of NADPH oxidase subunit in hippocampus of two-vessel occlusion (2VO) rats were determined after 2-week acupuncture. Furthermore, the cognitive function and production of O2(-) were determined in the presence and absence of NADPH oxidase agonist (TBCA) and antagonist (Apocynin). The effect of acupuncture on cognitive function after cerebral ischaemia in gp91phox-KO mice was evaluated by Morris water maze. Acupuncture reduced infarct size, attenuated overproduction of O2(-), and reversed consequential cognitive impairment and neuron cell loss in 2VO rats. The elevations of gp91phox and p47phox after 2VO were significantly decreased after acupuncture treatment. However, no differences of gp91phox mRNA were found among any experimental groups. Furthermore, these beneficial effects were reversed by TBCA, whereas apocynin mimicked the effect of acupuncture by improving cognitive function and decreasing O2(-) generation. Acupuncture failed to improve the memory impairment in gp91phox KO mice. Full function of the NADPH oxidase enzyme plays an important role in neuroprotective effects against cognitive impairment via inhibition of NAPDH oxidase-mediated oxidative stress. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Figure 3A. * Red arrows: Lanes 1-2 in the GAPHD panel look similar to lanes 3-4. Could the authors maybe share the whole, uncropped blot, please?  , 
  This study contain identical data as in another paper https: pubpeer.com publications 8A885376FC2CB167AFC337BAE9BD32?utm_source=Chrome utm_medium=BrowserExtension utm_campaign=Chrome#null Even though different mouse lines were said to have been used in these two studies. , 
  Update: this paper contains data that are identical to TWO other papers from the same lab. https: pubpeer.com publications 8A885376FC2CB167AFC337BAE9BD32?utm_source=Chrome utm_medium=BrowserExtension utm_campaign=Chrome#null https: pubpeer.com publications 376B1C032DE6201C7EDBC0DF8D21B9 , 
 On the topic of acupuncture: https: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov 23709076 , 
 Corrected [27 September 2021] .  This Article contains errors. Data presented in Figure 1A was previously reported by the authors in Figure 1A of Reference1, which is not cited in the Article. Retracted [23 March 2022] . ------------------- After publication of this Article concerns have been raised about the overlap of Figure 1 with another article from the authors, which was not cited in the Article1. Subsequent investigation showed that overlap extends also to the data shown in Figure 2. Data shown in this figure is presented as coming from a different sample in the other article. Due to the time since the research was performed, the Authors are not able to provide the original data underlying this study. Editors therefore no longer have confidence in the conclusions of this Article. Guang-Xia Shi, Chao-Qun Yan, Tian He, Jing-Wen Yang, Qian Xu and Cun-Zhi Liu disagree with the retraction. Xue-Rui Wang, Xiang-Hong Zeng, Wen Zhu and Si-Qi Du did not respond to the correspondence from the Editors. Reference - [1] Wang, X.-R. et al. Acupuncture ameliorates cognitive impairment and hippocampus neuronal loss in experimental vascular dementia through Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response. Free Radic. Biol. Med. 89, 1077u20131084 (2015). ,