针刺足三里穴对机体免疫功能和脑功能变化影响的研究

目的 分析针刺足三里穴后外周血免疫相关指标和功能磁共振(fMRI)信号的变化,探索针刺调节机体免疫功能的中枢机制.方法 选择健康成年志愿者13名,分为真穴组13名和假穴组8名(同时参与了真穴组的实验).真穴组针刺受试者右侧足三里穴,假穴组针刺受试者右侧足三里穴同一水平向外2～3 cm处.针刺前5 min及出针后30 min分别采集受试者外周血,检测免疫相关指标(CD3、CD4、CD8、NK细胞).针刺时进行fMRI扫描,用SPM2软件分析tMRI数据.结果出针后真穴组外周血中CD4、CD4/CD8、NK细胞数量较针刺前明显提高,比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);假穴组外周血中CD4、CD4/CD8、NK细胞数量针刺前后比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).针刺足三里穴激活了左侧下丘脑、双侧尾状核头部、前后扣带回、旁中央小叶、颞中回、额中回、小脑半球;假穴组只激活了旁中央小叶及小脑半球.结论 针刺足三里穴对机体免疫功能的调节作用可能需要通过中枢特定脑区的介导作用于靶器官.

Zusanli (ST 36) acupuncture enhances immunologic function and cerebral function

Objective To explore the central mechanism of acupuncture in regulating immune function by composite analysis of immune-related indexes in peripheral blood and functional MRI (fMRI) signal changes after acupuncturing Zusanli (ST36) acupoint. Methods Thirteen healthy adult volunteers were divided into the true acupoint group (n=13) and the false acupoint group (n=8, who also participated in the true acupoint group). The true accupoint group used the Zusanli acupoint. Peripheral blood was drawn 5 min before the needling and 30 min after removing the needling for detection of the immune-related indexes. The fMRI was performed during acupuncture, and fMRI data obtained were analyzed by SPM2 software. Results The numbers of CD4, CD4/CD8 and NK cells after acupuncture increased significantly as compared with those before the needling in the true acupoint group (P<0.05), while no significant changes were noted in the false acupoint group (P>0.05). The fMRI showed that acupuncture on the Zusanli activated the left hypothalamus, bilateral head of the caudate nucleus, anterior cingulate cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, paracentral lobule, middle temporal gyrus, middle frontal gyms and cerebellar hemisphere; acupuncturing the false acupoint only activated the paracentral lobule and cerebellar hemisphere. Conclusion The regulatory action of acupuncturing the Zusanli acupoint on immune function is closely related to the Center-specific brain regions.