Electroacupuncture Upregulates SIRT1-Dependent PGC-1α Expression in SAMP8 Mice

Background: Abnormalities of brain energy metabolism are involved in Alzheimer disease (AD). Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is a class III histone deacetylase and activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator-1 alpha (PGC-1 alpha), which enhances mitochondrial biogenesis and energy homeostasis. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been reported to improve brain energy metabolism in AD. However, the effect of EA on SIRT1 and PGC-1 alpha in AD remains unclear. Material/Methods: ATP levels were measured using assay kits in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice. Western blotting analysis and quantitative real-time RT-PCR were performed to measure the expression of SIRT1 and PGC-1 alpha in the hippocampus of SAMP8 mice. PGC-1 alpha acetylation was analyzed using immunoprecipitation. Results: Compared with senescence-accelerated resistant mice 1 (SAMR1) mice, SAMP8 mice had a decline in ATP levels and the expression of SIRT1 and PGC-1 alpha. EA treatment improved ATP levels, upregulated the expression of SIRT1 and PGC-1 alpha, and decreased PGC-1 alpha acetylation. Conclusions: These data suggest that EA improved brain energy metabolism, potentially associated with the upregulation of SIRT1-dependent PGC-1 alpha expression.