Acupuncture Regulates Serum Differentially Expressed Proteins in Patients with Chronic Atrophic Gastritis: A Quantitative iTRAQ Proteomics Study.

Li F, Yang B, Liu Y, Tang T, Wang C, Li M, Lv S, Qi Q, Liu H, Shi Z, Wu H, Wang X

Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM14 Jun 2021Cited by 7 (Europe PMC)

PMID34234838PMCIDPMC8219412DOI10.1155/2021/9962224PepBankPUB-34234838

Summary

ObjectiveTo identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in sera of patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) and to explore acupuncture's mechanism in CAG.MethodsPeripheral sera from 8 healthy volunteers (HC), 8 chronic nonatrophic gastritis (NAG) patients, 8 CAG patients, and 8 CAG patients who underwent acupuncture treatment (CAG + ACU) were collected followed by labeling with iTRAQ reagent for protein identification and quantification using two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (2D-LC-MS/MS). Representative DEPs were selected through bioinformatics, and proteins were verified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsA total of 4,448 unique peptides were identified, corresponding to 816 nonredundant proteins. A 1.4-fold difference was used as the threshold. Compared with the HC group, 75 and 106 DEPs were identified from CAG and NAG groups, respectively. Compared with the CAG group, 110 and 66 DEPs were identified from the NAG and CAG + ACU groups, respectively. The DEPs were mainly involved in protein binding and the Notch signaling pathway-related proteins, and the upregulated proteins included actin-binding proteins (thymosin beta-4, tropomyosin-4, profilin-1, transgelin-2), while the downregulated proteins included Notch2 and Notch3. After acupuncture, the expression of these proteins in CAG patients was less differentiated from that in healthy people. The level of the above 6 proteins were verified by ELISA, and the results were similar to the results of iTRAQ analysis.ConclusionsActin-binding proteins and Notch signaling pathway-related proteins were correlated with the development and progression of CAG and thus are potential diagnostic markers for CAG. Acupuncture may play a role in regulating actin-binding proteins and Notch signaling pathway-related proteins to play a therapeutic role in CAG.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study2

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured2

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

01HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
In sera of patients with chronic atrophic gastritis, thymosin beta‑4 was among the upregulated actin-binding proteins.
In plain wordsIn people with chronic atrophic gastritis, the body's own thymosin beta‑4 in blood was among the proteins found at higher levels.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseSerum thymosin beta-4 in chronic atrophic gastritis
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Endogenous peptide levels · Gastrointestinal
Source sentences
Summary
The DEPs were mainly involved in protein binding and the Notch signaling pathway-related proteins, and the upregulated proteins included actin-binding proteins (thymosin beta-4, tropomyosin-4, profilin-1, transgelin-2), while the downregulated proteins included Notch2 and Notch3.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The level of the above 6 proteins were verified by ELISA, and the results were similar to the results of iTRAQ analysis.
Summary · context
Peripheral sera from 8 healthy volunteers (HC), 8 chronic nonatrophic gastritis (NAG) patients, 8 CAG patients, and 8 CAG patients who underwent acupuncture treatment (CAG + ACU) were collected followed by labeling with iTRAQ reagent for protein identification and quantification using two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (2D-LC-MS/MS).
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3423483801
02HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
After acupuncture, the expression of these proteins, including thymosin beta‑4, in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis was less different from that in healthy people.
In plain wordsAfter acupuncture, the body's own thymosin beta‑4 in blood of people with gastritis was closer to healthy levels.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseSerum thymosin beta-4 after acupuncture
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Endogenous peptide levels · Gastrointestinal
Source sentences
Summary
After acupuncture, the expression of these proteins in CAG patients was less differentiated from that in healthy people.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Peripheral sera from 8 healthy volunteers (HC), 8 chronic nonatrophic gastritis (NAG) patients, 8 CAG patients, and 8 CAG patients who underwent acupuncture treatment (CAG + ACU) were collected followed by labeling with iTRAQ reagent for protein identification and quantification using two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (2D-LC-MS/MS).
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3423483802

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Version 2Current
13 Oct 2026, 01:52 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
12 Oct 2026, 18:17 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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