Electroacupuncture mimics exercise-induced changes in skeletal muscle gene expression in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Context: Autonomic nervous system activation mediates the increase in whole-body glucoseuptake in response to electroacupuncture but the mechanisms are largely unknown.Objective: To identify the molecular mechanisms underlying electroacupuncture-inducedglucose uptake in skeletal muscle in insulin-resistant overweight/obese women with andwithout polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Design/Participants: In a case-control study, skeletal muscle biopsies were collected from 15women with PCOS and 14 controls before and after electroacupuncture. Gene expression andmethylation was analyzed using Illumina BeadChips arrays.Results: A single bout of electroacupuncture restores metabolic and transcriptional alterationsand induces epigenetic changes in skeletal muscle. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 180unique genes (q < 0.05) whose expression was changed by electroacupuncture, with 95% ofthe changes towards a healthier phenotype. We identified DNA methylation changes at 304unique sites (q < 0.20), and these changes correlated with altered expression of 101 genes(P < 0.05). Among the 50 most upregulated genes in response to electroacupuncture, 38% werealso upregulated in response to exercise. We identified a subset of genes that were selectivelyaltered by electroacupuncture in women with PCOS. For example, MSX1 and SRNX1 weredecreased in muscle tissue of women with PCOS and were increased by electroacupuncture andexercise. siRNA-mediated silencing of these 2 genes in cultured myotubes decreased glycogensynthesis, supporting a role for these genes in glucose homeostasis.Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence that electroacupuncture normalizes gene expressionin skeletal muscle in a manner similar to acute exercise. Electroacupuncture might thereforebe a useful way of assisting those who have difficulties performing exercise.