title: Effects of acupuncture at ST25 on inflammatory mediators and nuclear factor κB activation in a rat model of severe acute pancreatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) and manual acupuncture (MA) at ST25 on inflammatory mediators and nuclear factor κ-B (NF-κB) activation in rats with sodium taurocholate-induced severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (sham-operated), SAP, SAP+EA and SAP+MA (n=22 each). A SAP model was established by injecting 3.5% sodium taurocholate 1 mL/kg into the pancreatic duct. In each group, animals were killed at t=3 h (n=7), 6 h (n=7) and 12 h (n=8) after the procedure. Pancreatic expression of NF-κB was examined by immunohistochemical staining. The levels of tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in serum were determined by ELISA. Pathological changes in the pancreas were examined microscopically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 increased and morphological changes consistent with tissue damage were observed in the pancreas of SAP rats. NF-κB p65 expression was significantly higher in the SAP group than in the sham-operated group (p<0.05). Treatment with acupuncture at ST25 attenuated morphological damage and reduced levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in serum. NF-κB p65 expression was also significantly reduced by acupuncture at ST25 in the pancreas at 6 and 12 h after the procedure (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between the SAP+EA and SAP+MA groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture at ST25 might have a therapeutic effect on rats with SAP through inhibition of NF-κB expression and a reduction in the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Qi-Ming
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000208:Acute Disease / Q000628:therapy; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
keywords: ACUPUNCTURE