The Effects of Electro-acupuncture on the Signaling Pathway of TLR/MYD88 in Ankle Joint Synovial Tissue of Acute Gouty Arthritis Rats

Objective To investigate the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) on the related protein expression of the signaling pathway of the toll-like receptor2 (TLR2)/myeloid differentiation factor (MYD) 88 in ankle joint synovial tissue of acute gouty arthritis (AGA) rats. Methods Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal group, SMD group, AGA model group, medication group and EA group, 10 rats in each group. SMD group established model by inducing SMD, other groups established AGA model by inducing monosodium urate, except the normal group. Two days before model was established, normal and SMD and AGA model groups were lavaged with normal saline (20 mL/kg), medication group was lavaged with colchicine solution (1 mg/kg), EA (1.5-2 Hz, D.-D.wave, 9 V, 1-3 mA) was applied to“Sanyinjiao” (SP6),“Jiexi”(ST41) and“kunlun” (BL60) for 20 min, once daily, continuously for 9 days. Then the join sewlling index was observed periodically, the protein expression of TLR2 and MYD88 was determined by immunohistochemistry. Results Compared to the normal group, the join sewlling of the SMD group in test join increased significantly (P<0.05) and the protein expression of TLR2 and MYD88 in synovial tissue has not statistically significant (P>0.05), the join sewlling and protein expression of TLR2 and MYD88 in synovial tissue of model group increased significantly (P<0.05); The medication and EA group compared to the model group, the protein expression of TLR2 and MYD88 in synovial tissue decreased significantly (P<0.05), the join sewlling in test join decreased significantly (P<0.05); There were not statistically significant between the EA group and the medication group (P>0.05). Conclusion EA can alleviate the symptoms of AGA, which may be related to regulation of the protein expression of TLR2 and MYD88 in the TLR/MYD88 signaling pathway.