Effect of Electroacupunctrue on ERp57 in NAFLD Rats

Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupunctrue on ERp57 in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rats, and study the therapeutic mechanism of electroacupunctrue in patients with NAFLD. Methods Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into common diet group (n=15) and high-fat diet group (n=45). 5 weeks later, two rats from the two groups were executed and confirmed that the model was successful. Then 10 rats in common diet group were chosen as control group (Control), and 40 rats in high-fat diet group were randomly chosen and divided into diet group 1 (D1), diet group 2 (D2), electroacupuncture group 1 (EA1) and electroacupuncture group 2 (EA2) (n =10 each). D1 and EA1 were fed by high fat diet; D2 and EA2 were fed with common diet. In EA1 and EA2, filiform needle acupuncture was applied to ST36, SP6 and Liv3 and electroacupunctrue was applied to one-side of ST36, SP6 for 20 min once daily for 4 weeks. The rats in each group were weighed per-week. After the treatment the changes of blood lipid and liver functions of these rats were observed. ERp57 gene expression and protein expression were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, and expression of ERp57 downstream SREBP-1c was detected. Results The body mass of D1 increased slowly and were lower than D2 and EA1 ( P<0.05); the body weights of EA2 increased rapidly and were higher than EA1 ( P<0.05), but without significant difference with D2 ( P>0.05). The contents of blood lipid, liver functions and the expression of ERp57 and SREBP-1c were significantly higher than those in Control, D2 and EA1 ( P<0.05). While compared to D2 and EA1 respectively, the index mentioned above in EA2 decreased more significantly ( P<0.05). Conclusion Electroacupunctrue can decrease expression of ERp57 to improve endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) of rats with NAFLD and then decrease expression of SREBP-1c to regulate rat lipid, which could be one of mechanism to cure NAFLD.