[The role of neuroimmunoregulation mobilized by enhancing immunologic function via hou hai acupoint antigen injection].
OBJECTIVE
To study the mechanism of neuroimmunoregulation which is triggered by enhancing immunologic function via Hou Hai acupoint antigen injection.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical method, immunofluorometric method and RT-PCR were used to examine the different distribution of cytokine immunopositive cells in the brain and expression of cytokines in the spleen of the human IgG sensitized rats received acupoint, subcutaneous and normal rats antigen injections.


RESULTS
In the areas of lateral hypothalamic nucleus (LH) and amygdaloid nuclear complex (AA), the distribution of cytokines immunopositive cells with acupoint injection group was significantly increased more than that in the subcutaneous injection group. But the expression of cytokines immunopositive cells both by the acupoint injection and the subcutaneous injection groups reached their peak value in similar time. Double-labelling results showed that the cytokine immunopositive cells were neurons. In the spleens, the expressions of cytokines, IL-2 and IFN, were significantly increased by acupoint injection more than subcutaneous injection.


CONCLUSIONS
The time course of neuroimmunoregulation is similar in the immunized rats via both acupoint injection and subcutaneous injection of antigens. But the activity of neuroimmunoregulation is not the same in acupoint and subcutaneous injection groups. Neurons of the LH and AA are the main source of the neuroimmunomodulators. The effect of enhancing immunologic function via Hou Hai acupoint injection is may be more efficient to mobilize the activity of neuroimmunoregulation of immune-associated brain region than modulation of the immune system.
Gao
Y
Y
Department of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Science, CAMS, PUMC, Beijing 100005, China. gaoyang-1956@hotmail.com
Wang
J Z
JZ
Ng
Y K
YK
Lin
J Y
JY
Li
L
L
Wang
D
D
Lin
E A
EA
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000679:Amygdala / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D007026:Hypothalamic Area, Lateral / Q000378:metabolism*; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D016207:Cytokines