Role of endogenous interferon-gamma on the enhancement of splenic NK cell activity by electroacupuncture stimulation in mice.
Successive electro-acupuncture (EA) stimulation applied to bilateral anterior tibial muscles, where Zusanli (ST36) acupoints are located, once a day (30 min) for 3 successive days significantly enhanced splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity in BALB/c mice. The percentage of splenic NK cells, as measured by flow cytometry, was not affected in these mice. Interferon (IFN)-gamma level in splenic aqueous extract, prepared from the ST36 acupoint-stimulated mice, was significantly higher than that of the controls. In vivo treatment with neutralizing monoclonal antibody against mouse IFN-gamma completely abrogated the increase in splenic NK cell activity induced by ST36 acupoint stimulation. The same stimulation also significantly increased the concentration of splenic beta-endorphin, which coincided with the significant increase in splenic IFN-gamma production. Pre-administration of 10 mg/kg naloxone before initiation of EA stimulation every day reduced the enhancements of NK cell activity and IFN-gamma level. These observations strongly suggest that endogenous IFN-gamma mediates the up-regulation of NK cell activity by EA stimulation at the ST36 acupoints. Furthermore, endogenous beta-endorphin secreted by EA stimulation also plays an important role in the up-regulation of NK cell function, which may be realized through regulating IFN-gamma production.
Yu
Y
Y
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
Kasahara
T
T
Sato
T
T
Asano
K
K
Yu
G
G
Fang
J
J
Guo
S
S
Sahara
M
M
Hisamitsu
T
T
D000818:Animals; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000502:physiology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000032:analysis
D017252:CD3 Complex; D002395:Catecholamines; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D018664:Interleukin-12; D009270:Naloxone; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D007371:Interferon-gamma