“Adjusting Internal Organs and Dredging Channel” Electroacupuncture Ameliorates Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Regulating the Intestinal Flora and Inhibiting Inflammation

Abstract

Liying Zhang,1,* Xinhua Chen,2,* Haili Wang,1 Haipeng Huang,1 Mengyuan Li,1 Lin Yao,1 Shiqi Ma,1 Zhen Zhong,1 Hongmei Yang,3 Hongfeng Wang4 1School of Acupuncture and Massage, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, 130117, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, People’s Republic of China; 3Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Jilin, 130117, People’s Republic of China; 4Northeast Asia Institute of Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Jilin, 130117, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hongmei Yang; Hongfeng WangJilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, Jilin, 130117, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax [phone]Email [email protected] WangNortheast Asia Institute of Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, 1035 Boshuo Road, Changchun, Jilin, 130117, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax [phone]Email [email protected]: Traditional Chinese acupuncture has been demonstrated to be beneficial for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The mechanism of acupuncture on T2DM is crucial for their biological activity as well as their usefulness as tools in biology and medicine. However, its mechanism is poorly understood.Methods: In an effort to explore the mechanism, eight db/db mice (a type of spontaneous T2DM mouse) were treated with adjusting internal organs and dredging channel electroacupuncture (AODCEA) for 2 weeks. Another eight db/db mice were fed as T2DM group (T2DMG), and eight db/m mice were set as normal control group (NCG). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and diabetes-related indicators, such as fasting blood glucose (FBG) and triglyceride (TG), were detected by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). The V4 region of 16S rRNA gene was analyzed by Illumina sequencing to evaluate the effect of AODCEA on intestinal flora. The amount of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the feces were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).Results: Our results indicate that AODCEA treatment can reduce diabetes-related indicators. We observed the increased probiotics such as Blautia and Lactobacillus and decreased opportunist pathogens (Alistipes, Helicobacter, Prevotella) by AODCEA interventions. Importantly, the total amount of SCFAs in the feces of T2DM mice was promoted by AODCEA. Finally, obviously alleviated systemic inflammation was exhibited through AODCEA treatment by detection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum.Conclusion: AODCEA can reshape the structure of intestinal flora, which can increase intestinal SCFAs, affect the circulating LPS level, and reduce the inflammatory response.Keywords: gut microbiota, acupuncture, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, short-chain fatty acids, inflammation, insulin resistance

Keywords

• gut microbiota
• acupuncture
• type 2 diabetes mellitus
• short-chain fatty acids
• inflammation
• insulin resistance