电针对角叉菜胶致炎大鼠的治疗作用和对COX蛋白表达的影响

目的:观察电针对角叉菜胶致炎大鼠的抗炎效应及其对环氧合酶(COX)蛋白表达的干预作用,以探讨电针抗急性炎症作用及其部分机理。方法:大鼠右后足跖皮下注射2%角叉菜胶诱导急性炎症模型,分别采用电针、消炎痛和罗非昔布治疗。采用毛细管放大法、放射免疫分析法和Western Blotting法分别检测足跖肿胀度、血清PGE2含量和足爪炎症组织及脾脏组织COX-1/-2蛋白表达水平。结果:电针可有效抑制角叉菜胶致炎大鼠足跖肿胀,尤以造模后3 h最为显著;与模型对照组比较,电针可有效降低血清中的PGE2含量;电针对环氧合酶蛋白表达无显著影响。结论:电针对角叉菜胶致炎大鼠急性炎症具有良好的抗炎效应,并通过抑制血清中PGE2含量控制炎症进一步的发展。在急性炎症过程中,电针尚未对环氧合酶蛋白表达起干预作用,其具体的抗炎机制还有待于进一步深入研究。

Observation on the Anti-inflammatory Effect of Electroacupuncture and Its Influence on Cycloxygenase Expression in Carrageenan-induced Inflammation Rats

Objective: To observe the anti-inflammatory effect of electroacupuncture(EA) at "Quchi"(LI 11) and its influence on cyclooxygenase(COX) expression in carrageenan-induced inflammation rats,so as to study the mechanism of EA in resisting acute inflammation.Methods: Fifty Wistar rats were evenly randomized into control,model,EA,Indomethacin and Rofecoxib groups.Inflammation model was established by subcutaneous injection of 0.1 mL of 2% carrageenan into the right hind paw.The control degree of paw edema(Paw volume 1 h after injection of carrageenan-paw volume 3 h/4 h after injection of carrageenan) was calculated.Concentration of serum PGE_2 was measured by radioimmunoassay.Expression of COX protein in local inflammatory tissues and spleen were detected by Western blotting method.EA(5 mA,15 Hz,continuous waves) was applied to "Quchi"(LI 11) on the affected side for 30 min.Rats of Indomethacin and Rofecoxib groups were fed with Indomethacin and Rofecoxib(3 mg/kg) respectively.Results:Compared with model group,the control rates of paw edema in EA,Indomethacin and Rofecoxib groups 3 h after injection of carrageenan,and in EA and Rofecoxib groups 4 h after injection of carrageenan were significantly higher(P<0.05),showing an apparent inhibitory effect of EA on carrageenan-induced paw edema,especially at the 3~(rd) hour after administration.Compared with control group,serum PGE_2 content of model group increased significantly(P<0.05);while in comparison with model group,PGE_2 contents of EA and Indomethacin groups decreased significantly(P<0.05).No significant differences were found among EA,Indomethacin and Rofecoxib groups in the control rates of paw edema and in serum PGE_2 levels(P>0.05).Under normal condition,no expression of COX-2 in the spleen tissue of control animals was found,while in the present study,COX-2 expression in the local inflammatory tissues and spleen was significantly upregulated in model group;but EA had no effects on the expression of both COX-1 and COX-2. Conclusion: EA has an anti-inflammatory effect on carrageenan-induced inflammation in rats and resists the development of inflammation by reducing the concentration of serum PGE_2;but EA stimulation has no influence on the expression of both COX-1 and COX-2.