Acupuncture modulates actin homeostasis and promotes myelin sheath regeneration in rat models of intracerebral hemorrhage.

Abstract

The relationship between actin dynamics and remyelination after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the mechanism by which scalp acupuncture (SA) regulates remyelination in acute ICH rats through the PAK1/LIMK1/CFL1 signaling pathway. The Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to establish the ICH model by autologous blood injection. The treatment group SA intervention, with the selective inhibitor of PAK1, IPA-3, used as a positive control. The regulatory effect of SA on the PAK1/LIMK1/CFL1 signaling pathway after ICH was evaluated using neurological function assessment, Luxol fast blue staining, Western blot, and immunofluorescence staining. On the third day after ICH, there is a peak in p-PAK1 levels, and SA intervention has the best therapeutic effect. Therefore, the third day was chosen for the IPA-3 positive control experiment. The study found that the PAK1/LIMK1/CFL1 signaling pathway is activated after ICH, leading to the inhibition of filamentous actin depolymerization, resulting in severe myelin sheath loss and neurological dysfunction. Following SA or IPA-3 intervention, the PAK1/LIMK1/CFL1 pathway is inhibited, leading to the depolymerization of actin filaments and a reduction in the degree of myelin sheath loss, as well as improvement in symptoms of neurological dysfunction. SA regulates the homeostasis of actin proteins by inhibiting the PAK1/LIMK1/CFL1 signaling pathway, promoting neuronal myelin sheath regeneration after acute ICH, and improving neurological behavioral disorders.