Evidence Details for Ctnnb1
PMID Title Journal Year Abstract
35321503 Scalp Electroacupuncture Promotes Angiogenesis after Stroke in Rats by Activation of Wnt/beta-Catenin Signal Pathway. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 Mar 14;2022:1649605. doi: 10.1155/2022/1649605. eCollection 2022. 2022 BACKGROUND: Scalp acupuncture is a contemporary acupuncture method based on the fundamental theories of traditional acupuncture, which has been widely used in patients with stroke in China. However, the effectiveness is controversial due to lack of solid experimental evidence. METHODS: In this study, a rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) was established by the middle cerebral artery occlusion/recirculation. The efficacy of scalp acupuncture against CIRI was evaluated by the mNSS scores, TTC staining for brain slices, and laser Doppler perfusion imaging. Immunohistochemical staining for angiogenetic factors indicated the vascularization after CIRI, including VEGF, Ang2, and bFGF. Activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway and p-GSK3beta (ser9)/VEGF pathway in the injured brain tissues was assessed by western blotting and qRT-PCR. RESULTS: On the 7, 14, and 21 days after CIRI, scalp acupuncture could reduce the mNSS scores, decrease the cerebral infarction area, and accelerate the recirculation of ischemic brain tissues. VEGF, FLK1, bFGF, and Ang2 were upregulated on both the mRNA and protein levels in the ischemic brain tissues of the AC group, suggesting that the recirculation might result from angiogenesis, which was also confirmed with the IHC staining in the angiogenetic markers of VEGF, Ang2, and bFGF. Moreover, Wnt3a, beta-catenin, and cyclin D1 were also upregulated on both the mRNA and protein levels in the ischemic brain tissues of the AC group on day 7, 14, and 21, indicating that the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway was activated after the treatment of scalp acupuncture. In contrast, dikkoppf-1 (DKK1) pretreatment, a specific inhibitor for the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway, inactivated the Wnt3a/beta-catenin signaling pathway and exacerbated the infarct size induced by the cerebral IR injury on day 7. CONCLUSION: Together, our findings demonstrated a mechanism whereby scalp acupuncture led to the activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway, promoting angiogenetic factor expression and restoring blood perfusion in the ischemic zone."

Evidence Sentence: Moreover, Wnt3a, beta-catenin, and cyclin D1 were also upregulated on both the mRNA and protein levels in the ischemic brain tissues of the AC group on day 7, 14, and 21, indicating that the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway was activated after the treatment of scalp acupuncture.
Evidence Sentence: Protein and mRNA Expression Levels of Wnt3a, beta-Catenin, TCF4, Cyclin D1, and p-GSK3beta (ser9)
Evidence Sentence: Protein Expression Levels of Wnt3a, beta-Catenin, TCF4, Cyclin D1, and p-GSK3beta (ser9)
Evidence Sentence: Wnt3a and beta-catenin expression levels were elevated in the model group from brain tissues compared with those from the sham group (P < 0.05) on days 7, 14, 21.
Evidence Sentence: The treatment of scalp acupuncture showed increased expression of Wnt3a, beta-catenin, TCF4, and cyclin D1, compared with the model group on days 7, 14, and 21 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).
Evidence Sentence: To validate the activation of Wnt3a/beta-catenin pathway, we also detected the expression levels of Wnt3a and beta-catenin after treating rats with DKK1, a specific inhibitor of Wnt3a, for 7 days.
Evidence Sentence: As shown in Figure 2(c), compared with the model group, the expression levels of Wnt3a and beta-catenin deceased in the brain tissues from the group of DKK1 on day 7 (P < 0.01).
Evidence Sentence: Wnt3a and beta-catenin expression levels were increased in the AC + DKK1 group compared with the DKK1 group (P < 0.01) on day 7.
Evidence Sentence: However, there was no difference in the expression levels of Wnt3a and beta-catenin between the AC and AC + DKK1 groups on day 7.
Evidence Sentence: 3.3.2. mRNA Expression Levels of Wnt3a, beta-Catenin, TCF4, Cyclin D1, and p-GSK3beta (ser9)
Evidence Sentence: As shown in Figures 5(a)-5(c), consistent with the expression levels of proteins, scalp acupuncture increased the mRNA expression levels of Wnt3a and beta-catenin in the brain tissue from the AC group compared with that from the model group on days 7, 14, and 21 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).
Evidence Sentence: Similar to the protein assay, we also detected mRNA levels of Wnt3a and beta-catenin by RT-PCR after adding DKK1.
Evidence Sentence: As shown in Figure 2(d), on day 7, mRNA levels of Wnt3a and beta-catenin were reduced in the DKK1 group compared with the model group (P < 0.001).
Evidence Sentence: Compared with the DKK1 group, mRNA levels of Wnt3a and beta-catenin significantly increased in the AC + DKK1 group on day 7 (P < 0.01).
Evidence Sentence: However, there was no difference in the mRNA levels of Wnt3a and beta-catenin between the AC and AC + DKK1 groups on day 7.
Evidence Sentence: Scalp Electroacupuncture Promotes Angiogenesis after Stroke in Rats by Activation of Wnt/beta-Catenin Signal Pathway
Evidence Sentence: Activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway and p-GSK3beta (ser9)/VEGF pathway in the injured brain tissues was assessed by western blotting and qRT-PCR.
Evidence Sentence: In contrast, dikkoppf-1 (DKK1) pretreatment, a specific inhibitor for the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway, inactivated the Wnt3a/beta-catenin signaling pathway and exacerbated the infarct size induced by the cerebral IR injury on day 7.
Evidence Sentence: Together, our findings demonstrated a mechanism whereby scalp acupuncture led to the activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway, promoting angiogenetic factor expression and restoring blood perfusion in the ischemic zone.