INFLUENCE OF “WARMING YANG AND NOURISHING QI” ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT ON SERUM IL-12 AND IL-18 EXPRESSION LEVELS IN RATS WITH EXPERIMENTAL AUTOIMMUNE MYASTHENIA GRAVIS AND ITS MECHANISM

Objective: To observe the influence of the "Warming yang and Nourishing qi" acupuncture treatment on the serum interleukin-12(IL-12) and interleukin-18(IL-18) expression levels in rats with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis(EAMG) and to analyze the mechanism of acupuncture in treatment of myasthenia gravis(MG).Methods: AchRα1 129-145 peptide fragments were used to immune the female Lewis rats to establish EAMG rat models.Thirty EAMG model rats were randomly divided into acupuncture treatment group, drug control group and model control group(n=10); the unmodeled 10 rats purchased at the same period were used as the blank control group.The rats in acupuncture treatment group were treated by "Warming yang and Nourishing qi" acupuncture treatment, 30 min, once a day, 7 d for a period, 1 d rest between two periods, and two periods of continuous treatment.The rats in drug control group were treated by the pyridostigmine lavaged treatment, 18.5 mg/(kg·d), continuous treatment for 15 d.The rats in the other two groups had no any special treatments.After treatment, the blood samples from the vein of tail root of the rats in 4 groups were collected, and the serum expression levels of IL-12 and IL-18 were detected with ELISA method.Results: After treatment, compared with the model control group, the serum IL-12 and IL-18 expression levels of the EAMG rats in the acupuncture treatment group and the drugcontrol group were significantly decreased(P0.05 or P0.01).Compared between the acupuncture treatment group and the drug control group, the serum IL-12 and IL-18 expression levels of the EAMG rats were not significantly different(P0.05).Conclusion: "Warming yang and Nourishing qi" acupuncture treatment can reduce the serum IL-12 and IL-18 expression levels of EAMG rats.For the treatment of MG, the effect of acupuncture was similar to pyridostigmine.     

EFFECTS OF ACUPUNCTURE AT DIFFERENT ACUPOINTS ON EXPRESSION OF SERUM IFN-γ AND HYPOTHALAMIC β-EP mRNA IN RATS AFTER IMMUNOSUPPRESSION

Objective: To compare the effects of acupuncture at different acupoints on the content of serum IFN-γ and expression of hypothalamic β-EP mRNA in rats after immunosuppression, and to investigate the mechanism of acupuncture in regulating immune function.Methods: Healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, immunosuppressive group, Baihui group, Zusanli group, Baihui and Zusanli group, 8 rats in each group.Immunosuppression model was made by cyclophosphamide injection, and acupuncture was performed at Baihui(DU20) and/or Zusanli(ST36).Seven days after acupuncture, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the content of serum IFN-γ, and real-time quantitative PCR(RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of β-EP mRNA in all rats.Results: Compared with the normal control group, the levelof serum IFN-γ decreased significantly in the immunosuppressive group(P0.01).Compared with the immunosuppressive group,the content of serum IFN-γ in the Baihui group, the Zusanli group, and the Baihui and Zusanli group was improved significantly, and the Baihui and Zusanli group was better than the other two groups(P0.05).Compared with the normal control group, the expression of hypothalamus β-EP mRNA was decreased significantly(P0.01).Compared with the immunosuppressive group, the expression of hypothalamic β-EP mRNA in the Baihui group, the Zusanli group, and the Baihui and Zusanli group was promoted significantly, and the Baihui and Zusanli group was better than the other two groups(P0.05).Conclusion: The content of serum IFN-γ and expression of hypothalamic β-EP mRNA were increased in rats after immunosuppression by acupuncturing Baihui(DU20) and Zusanli(ST36), which may be one of the mechanisms of enhancing the immune function.     

ROLE OF ACUPUNCTURE IN THE REGULATION OF PRO- AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES IN A CHRONIC STRESS RAT MODEL OF DEPRESSION

Objective: Depression, a common affective disorder, is one of the leading causes of the global burden of diseases.It has been thought that chronic stress could be the main factor of inducing depression.Acupuncture in traditional Chinese medicine has been found to alleviate depression.However, it remains unknown whether acupuncture could affect the inflammatory response in a chronic stress rat model of depression.Methods: In the present study, rats were randomly assigned to the control group, the chronic unpredictable stress(CUS) group and the acupuncture group(CUS+Acu).The serum contents of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interferon-γ(IFN-γ), IL-4 and IL-10 were measured by ELISA.Results: We found that CUS markedly increased the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines(IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ), and decreased the serum levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines(IL-4 and IL-10).Acupuncture treatment significantly reduced the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, while increased IL-4 level in CUS rats.However, the levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 were not significantly affected by acupuncture.Conclusion: The antidepressant effect of acupuncture might be mediated by reducing the pro-inflammatory cytokines and increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokines, and modulating the balance between pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines.     

Scalp acupuncture Yikang therapy on Baihui(GV20), Sishencong(EX-HN1), Zhisanzhen,Niesanzhen improves neurobehavior in young rats with cerebral palsy through Notch signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of scalp acupuncture Yikang therapy on Baihui(GV20), Sishencong(EX-HN1), Zhisanzhen, Niesanzhen, on neurobehavior in young rats with cerebral palsy based on Notch signaling pathway. METHODS: Thirty 7-day-old rats were randomly divided into sham, model and acupuncture, 10 rats in each group. The cerebral palsy model was established by the accepted modeling method, the acupuncture group selected "Baihui(GV20)", "Sishencong(EX-HN1)", "Zhisanzhen" and "Niesanzh...     

Effect of acupuncture at Fengchi (GB 20) on the activity of myosin light chain kinase in the middle meningeal artery of migraine modeled rats

OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of acupuncture at Fengchi(GB 20) on the activation of myosin light chain kinase(MLCK) in the middle meningeal artery of migraine modeled rats.METHODS:Forty-four clean grade healthy female Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups:the control group,blank control group,Fengchi(GB 20) acupuncture group,and Fengchi(GB 20) prevention group.Neurogenic inflammation of these rats was induced by electrical stimulation.The γ-~(32)P infiltration method was then used to detect MLCK activation in the middle meningeal artery,and immunocytochemistry was applied to detect the structural protein expression of MLCK.RESULTS:The migraine model was successfully established in the rats.Compared with the control group,MLCK activation was significantly decreased in the blank control group(P 0.01).CONCLUSION:The activation of MLCK in the middle meningeal artery was increased by acupuncture at Fengchi(GB 20),indicating its effectiveness in preventing and curing on acute migraine attacks.     

THE ANTI-DEPRESSIVE MECHANISM OF ELECTROACUPUNCTURE ON THE EXPRESSION OF BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR

Objective: Electroacupuncture(EA) has been reported to be effective for treating depression.The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of EA's function on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF), which is known to be associated with depressive disorders.Methods: A rat model of depression induced by chronic stress was established by alternating the following methods, water-break(24 h), night light(12 h), swimming(4 ℃, 5 min), shaking(30 min) and bounding(3 h), every day for four weeks.Rats were randomly divided into six groups(n=10 each): normal, normal+hand acupuncture, model, model+acupuncture, model+hand acupuncture, and model+paroxetine.EA was given at acupoints Baihui(GV20), Yintang(GV29) and Neiguan(PC6) for 10 min(2/100 Hz alternating, 0.2 mA) every other day for four weeks.The rats were decapitated and the brain tissues were collected after four weeks of treatment.Westernblot method was used to test BDNF in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.Results: Compared to the normal group, protein expression of BDNF significantly decreased in the model group(P0.01) in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.In the hippocampus: compared with the model group, the hand acupu ncture group andthe EA group obviously increased(P0.01), and the paroxitine group increased(P0.05); In the prefrontal cortex: compared with the model group, the hand acupuncture group, the EA group and the paroxitine group obviously increased(P0.01).BDNF expression increased in the model+hand acupuncture group and the model+paroxitine group compared with the model group(P0.01) and in the model+hand acupuncture group compared with the mode+EA group(P0.01).Conclusion: Solitary combined with chronic stress can significantly reduce the expression of BDNF.Hand acupuncture, EA and paroxetine intervention can improve the expression level of BDNF.Acupuncture treatment has obvious advantages in raising BDNF protein expression level.These indicated that acupuncture can alleviate depression through stimulating the Ras-MAPK-ERK pathway and expanding protein expression of BDNF to protect the neurons.     

Clinical observation on acupuncture plus acupoint sticking for bronchial asthma in remissive state

Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus acupoint sticking for bronchial asthma in remissive state. Methods： A total of 210 cases with asthma at remissive state were randomly allocated into an acupuncture group of 100 cases and a comprehensive therapy group of 110 cases. Cases in the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture alone, and cases in the comprehensive therapy group were treated with acupuncture plus acupoint sticking therapy. Then the therapeutic efficacies were compared using observation indexes including wheezing, cough and coughing up phlegm, peak expiratory flow （PEF） and forced expiratory volume in one second （FEV1）. In addition, the overall therapeutic efficacies were also analyzed on different traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） patterns. Results： The comprehensive therapy obtained better effects than acupuncture alone in alleviating cough and coughing up phlegm and improving PEF and FEV1; the overall efficacies on asthma due to lung-qi deficiency and spleen-qi deficiency were better than those on asthma due to kidney-qi deficiency. Conclusion： Acupuncture plus acupoint sticking is a convenient and effective therapy for asthma at remissive state and therefore worthy of being popularized.     

EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE ON SERUM INTERLUKIN—6 IN WOMEN WITH POSTMENOPAUSAL OSTEOPOROSIS

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture on serum interlukin-6 (IL-6) level in women with post-menopausal osteoporosis. Methods: 59 cases of postmenopausal osteoporosis women were randomly divided into acupunctue group(n=32) and calcium D group(n = 27). In acupuncture group, Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Shenshu (BL 23) and Pishu (BL 20) were punctured, 3 times every week, continuously for 6 months. In control group, patients were ordered to take Calcium D, one pill (containing 1500 mg calcium carbonate and VitD3) every morning, continuously for 6 months. Serum IL-6 was detected using radioimmunoassay. Results: After six months' treatment, the result showed that in acupuncture group serum IL-6 calcium level lowered while in control group serum IL-6 content increased. Statistical analysis indicates that there are no significant differences between two groups or between pre-treatment and post-treatment in every single group( P > 0.05). Conclusion: Although no statistical difference was found b     

EFFECT OF ELECTROACUPUNCTURE ON SERUM IL-1β AND TNF-α CONTENTS IN CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION RATS

Purpose: To study the mechanism of early acupuncture treatment in resisting inflammatory injury in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (IR) rats. Methods: A total of 120 Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control, sham-operation, model and EA groups, and each of them were further divided into IR-12 hr, IR-24 hr and IR-48 hr subgroups, with 10 cases being in each subgroup. Cerebral ischemia was produced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 0.5 hr. Shuigou (GV 26) and Baihui (GV 20) were punctured and stimulated electrically with an EA therapeutic apparatus. Serum IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α contents were assayed by using radioimmunoassay.Results: Results showed that serum IL-1β and TNF-c contents of model group were significantly higher than those of normal control and sham-operation groups at IR 12 hr, 24 hr and 48 hr ( P ＜ 0.05), meaning that following IR, the production and release of these two cytokines in the blood increased obviously; comparison between EA and model groups displayed that serum IL-1β and TNF-α levels of EA group were strikingly lower than those of model group (P＜0.01),suggesting that EA stimulation can suppress IR induced increase of production and release of these two cytokines. Conclusion: EA can suppress cerebral IR induced increase of serum IL-1β and TNF-α, which may contribute to the effect of acupuncture in resisting cerebral IR injury in the treatment of stroke.