Chinese Tuina Protects against Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia through Inhibiting the Neuroinflammatory Reaction

Aim. Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a significant cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Chinese Tuina is an effective treatment for HIE, but the molecular mechanisms are yet unknown. This study investigated the effect and mechanisms of Chinese Tuina on the inflammatory response in neonatal HIE rats. Main Methods. 30 male neonatal rats were divided randomly into 3 groups: sham, HIE, and HIE with Chinese Tuina (CHT) groups. The HIE and CHT groups were subjected to left common carotid occlusion and hypoxia at 3 days postnatal (P3). The pups in the CHT group received Chinese Tuina treatment on the next day for 28 days. The weight was measured at P4, P9, P13, P21, and P31. The behavioral functions were determined at P21. The protein expression and the methylation level in promoter regions of TNF-α and IL-10 were determined by Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and pyrosequencing, respectively, at P33. Key Findings. The weight gain in the HIE group was slow compared with that of the CHT group. The rats in the CHT group performed better both in the balance beam and hang plate experiment. Chinese Tuina inhibited the expression of TNF-α and upregulated the expression of IL-10. Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic injury downregulated the methylation level in promoter regions of TNF-α at all CpG points but not IL-10. However, Chinese Tuina did not change the methylation level in promoter regions of TNF-α and IL-10. Significance. Chinese Tuina protected against HIE through inhibiting the neuroinflammatory reaction. While HIE markedly downregulated the methylation level of TNF-α, the protective effects of Chinese Tuina were independent of the regulation of the methylation level of TNF-α and IL-10.