Abstract
Ferroptosis is associated with neural degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, how to control the level of ferroptosis in PD remains unclear. Clinically, moxibustion has been used to treat PD and has an apparent therapeutic effect on improving the motor symptoms of PD. In the present study, the PD rat model was constructed by two-point stereotactic 6-hydroxydopamine injection. Then, moxibustion was used to treat the PD rats. The expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and Ferritin Heavy Chain 1 (FTH1), the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the morphology of mitochondrial were detected to evaluate the level of ferroptosis. The results showed that moxibustion treatment of Shi's moxa sticks could reduce the behavioral score, alleviate the level of ferroptosis, decrease mitochondrial damage, and improve dopaminergic neuron survival. In conclusion, the present study results indicated that Shi's moxa sticks could effectively suppress the level of ferroptosis, thereby improving the survival of dopaminergic neurons in the SNpc of PD rats, which may provide a promising complementary and alternative therapy for PD patients.
Highlights
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a degenerative disease of the aging people’s nervous system
As a progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder, there is an urgent need for an effective treatment for PD [1]
We hope to provide promising therapies for PD. e present study constructed the PD rat model by a two-point stereotactic injection of 6-hydroxydopamine and investigated moxibustion treatment’s functional roles using Shi’s moxa stick in PD. e present study’s significant results were as follows: (i) the level of ferroptosis is associated with the injury of dopamine neurons in PD models; (ii) moxibustion treatment of Shi’s moxa stick can alleviate the damage of dopamine neurons by suppressing ferroptosis
Summary
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a degenerative disease of the aging people’s nervous system. Recent research suggested that moxibustion treatment can postpone PD progression and has an apparent therapeutic effect on motor symptom improvement in PD patients [9, 10]. We investigated the protective effects of Shi’s moxa stick on PD rat’s dopaminergic neuron injury. Ferroptosis is a novel form of nonapoptotic programmed cell death closely related to iron metabolism disturbance. It is closely associated with various neurodegenerative diseases, including PD [14,15,16]. Our results confirmed that moxibustion could effectively suppress the level of ferroptosis, thereby improving the survival of dopaminergic neurons in the SNpc of PD rats, which may provide a promising complementary and alternative therapy for PD patients
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