Use of electroacupuncture at ST36 to inhibit anaphylactic and inflammatory reaction in mice.
OBJECTIVE
Electroacupuncture (EA) has been used to treat myalgia, allergy and gastroenteropathy in Korea. To determine whether EA can treat anaphylactic and inflammatory reactions, the effect of EA was investigated in a murine model.


METHODS
EA stimulation of the ST36 acupoint was performed for 10 min. Using a passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) model, the antianaphylactic effects of EA were examined. Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were measured using the ELISA method. The level of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB/RelA protein and NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity was determined using the Western blot analysis and the transcription factor enzyme-linked immunoassay method.


RESULTS
EA inhibits PCA and beta-hexosaminidase release, IL-6 secretion on the PCA, and in addition, EA reduces NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that EA may possess antianaphylactic and antiinflammatory properties.
Moon
Phil-Dong
PD
Department of Pharmacology, College of Oriental Medicine, Institute of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jeong
Hyun-Ja
HJ
Kim
Su-Jin
SJ
An
Hyo-Jin
HJ
Lee
Hye-Jung
HJ
Yang
Woong Mo
WM
Park
Seong Kyu
SK
Hong
Seung-Heon
SH
Kim
Hyung-Min
HM
Um
Jae-Young
JY
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D010323:Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / Q000378:metabolism
D015850:Interleukin-6; D016328:NF-kappa B; C498144:Rela protein, mouse; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases