title: [Effect of electroacupunctu-e intervention on serum IL-17 and IL-23 contents in rheumatoid arthritis rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the influence of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Kunlun" (BL 60) on serum and knee-joint IL-17 and IL-23 contents in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rats so as to study its underlying mechanism in improving RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to normal control, RA model, EA and Prednisolone groups (n = 8 in each group). The RA model was established by intra-planta injection of incomplete Freund's adjuvant and type II collagen. EA (2 Hz/100 Hz,1-2 mA)was applied to bilateral "Zusanli"(ST 36) and "Kunlun"(BL 60) for 30 min, once daily for 10 days. The rats' ankle diameter was measured, and IL-17 and IL-23 contents in the serum and the knee-joint cavity were assayed by ELISA and Western blot, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the normal control group, the rats' ankle diameter, serum IL-17 and IL-23 contents and knee-joint IL-17 and IL-23 protein expression levels were significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.05). After EA and Prednisolone treatment, compared with the model group, all the rats' ankle diameter, serum IL-17 and IL-23 contents and knee-joint IL-17 and IL-23 protein expression levels were decreased remarkably (P < 0.05). No obvious differences were found between the EA and Prednisolone groups in the aforementioned indexes (P > 0.05), except IL-17 protein expression level (being markedly lower in the Prednisolone group than in the EA group).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EA intervention can reduce inflammatory reaction of the ankle-joint in RA rats, which may be related to its effects in down-regulating serum and knee-joint IL-17 and IL-23 levels.
authors.forename: Li-Hong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Chang-Xin
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Gui-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Li-Na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Ming-Liang
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Wen-Zhu
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha