Electroacupuncture suppresses surgical trauma stress-induced lymphocyte apoptosis in rats.
Cumulative evidences suggested that electroacupuncture (EA) could modulate immune function, but the mechanism needs further study. In the present study, the effect of EA on surgical trauma stress-induced lymphocyte apoptosis was investigated by using DNA gel electrophoresis, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay, and Western blot for Fas protein expression. The results showed that rats with surgical trauma stress exhibited a significant reduction in splenic cellularity. Increase in apoptotic cell death and Fas (CD95/Apo-1) expression in splenic lymphocytes was also observed. EA could suppress the increase of apoptosis and Fas protein expression in splenic lymphocytes induced by the surgical trauma stress. These results implied that EA could decrease splenic lymphocytes apoptosis via inhibiting Fas protein expression; consequently prevent deleterious immunological changes in the post-operative state.
Wang
Jun
J
Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, PR China.
Wang
Yan-Qing
YQ
Yu
Jin
J
Cao
Xiao-Ding
XD
Wu
Gen-Cheng
GC
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling / Q000379:methods; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D040921:Stress Disorders, Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
D019014:fas Receptor