OBJECTIVE Using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS to study the potential biomarkers of acupuncture in the treatment of depression, and to explore the potential metabolic regulatory mechanism of acupuncture treatment for depression.
METHODS 25 depression patients from Nanjing brain hospital from October 2017 to June 2018 were selected and randomly divided into 13 cases in acupuncture drug group and 12 cases in drug group(with 4 cases fell off). The drug group received oral treatment with SSRIs, while the acupuncture drug group received ear endothelial puncture treatment in addition to the treatment of drug group. Plasma samples were collected from the two groups of patients before and after treatment, and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS was used to detect plasma metabolites before and after treatment. The differences in metabolites between the two groups were compared before and after treatment.
RESULTS 16 potential biomarkers were screened out in the acupuncture drug group. It is speculated that the acupuncture drug group can improve the abnormal metabolism of patients with depression by regulating phenylalanine metabolism, histidine metabolism, synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies, and lysine degradation. 9 potential biomarkers were screened out in the drug group. It is speculated that the acupuncture drug group improves abnormal metabolism in patients with depression by regulating the four metabolic pathways: phenylalanine metabolism, histidine metabolism, ketone synthesis and degradation, and lysine degradation.
CONCLUSION The regulation of metabolites in patients with depression may be the internal mechanism by which acupuncture exerts its antidepressant effect.
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