Effects of electroacupuncture at Shangjuxu (ST 37) on interleukin-1beta and interleukin-4 in the ulcerative colitis model rats.
OBJECTIVE
To probe into the mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) at Shangjuxu (ST 37) for treatment of the ulcerative colitis (UC).


METHODS
Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: a normal group, a model group, a Shangjuxu group and a non-acupoint group, 10 rats in each group. The UC rat model was made with enema of trinitro-benzenesulfonic acid (TNBSA), and the changes of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) contents after EA at Shangjuxu (ST 37) were observed.


RESULTS
EA at Shangjuxu (ST 37) could significantly decrease the IL-1beta content and increase the IL-4 content in the colic tissues of the UC rats with significant differences as compared with the model group and the non-acupoint group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The mechanisms of EA at Shangjuxu (ST 37) for treatment of the UC rats is possibly related with the decrease of IL-1beta, a inflammation-promoting cytokine, and the increase of IL-4, a anti-inflammatory cytokine.
Yan
Jie
J
The Preclinical Medical College, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410007, China.
Zhang
Hong
H
Chen
Chu-tao
CT
Yang
Qian-yun
QY
Liao
Wen-feng
WF
Chen
Ping-guo
PG
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000276:immunology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015847:Interleukin-4