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Jinmaitong (筋脉通) alleviates the diabetic peripheral neuropathy by inducing autophagy

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Abstract

Objective

To observe the deregulation of autophagy in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and investigate whether Jinmaitong (筋脉通, JMT) alleviates DPN by inducing autophagy.

Methods

DPN models were established by streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and Schwann cells (SCs) cultured in high glucose medium. The pathological morphology was observed by the improved Bielschowsky's nerve fiber axonal staining and the Luxol fast blue-neutral red myelin staining. The ultrastructure was observed by the transmission electron microscopy. Beclin1 level was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The proliferation of cultured SCs was detected by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide.

Results

Diabetic peripheral nerve tissues demonstrated pathological morphology and reduced autophagic structure, accompanied with down-regulation of Beclin1. JMT apparently alleviated the pathological morphology change and increased the autophagy [in vivo, Beclin1 integral optical density (IOD) value of the control group 86.6±17.7, DM 43.9±8.8, JMT 73.3 ±17.8, P<0.01 or P<0.05, in vitro Beclin1 IOD value of the glucose group 0.47±0.25 vs the control group 0.88±0.29, P<0.05]. Consequently, inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine resulted in a time- and concentrationdependent decrease of the proliferation of SCs (P<0.05, P<0.01).

Conclusions

Down-regulation of autophagy in SCs might contribute to the pathogenesis of DPN. JMT alleviates diabetic peripheral nerve injury at least in part by inducing autophagy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China

    Ling Qu  (屈 岭), Qun-li Wu  (吴群励), Lian-qing Sun  (孙连庆), Li Zhao  (赵 丽), Yue Shi  (石 玥) & Xiao-chun Liang  (梁晓春)

  2. Cell Center, Institute of Basic Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100005, China

    Hong Zhang  (张 宏) & Bei Gu  (顾 蓓)

  3. Department of Electron Microscope, Institute of Basic Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100005, China

    Wei Dai  (戴 威)

Authors
  1. Ling Qu  (屈 岭)
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  2. Hong Zhang  (张 宏)
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  3. Bei Gu  (顾 蓓)
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  4. Wei Dai  (戴 威)
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  5. Qun-li Wu  (吴群励)
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  6. Lian-qing Sun  (孙连庆)
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  7. Li Zhao  (赵 丽)
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  8. Yue Shi  (石 玥)
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  9. Xiao-chun Liang  (梁晓春)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiao-chun Liang  (梁晓春).

Additional information

Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30572438), the Beijing Science Nuture Foundation (No. 7132189), Science Foundation of Peking Union Medical College Hospital (No. 2013-098) and Youth Foundation of Peking Union Medical College Hospital

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Qu, L., Zhang, H., Gu, B. et al. Jinmaitong (筋脉通) alleviates the diabetic peripheral neuropathy by inducing autophagy. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 22, 185–192 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-015-2164-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-015-2164-8

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