In a colitis model study, electroacupuncture stimulation
at PC3 and PC6 acupoints improved macroscopic and microscopic changes by
decreasing gene expression of inflammatory response related factors according
to a study published in journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative
Medicine.
Colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease. The symptoms
include loss of appetite, fatigue, tummy pain, recurring diarrhoea mixed with
blood. The exact cause of colitis is unknown but dysfunction of immune system
is believed playing an important role in the development of colitis. The conventional
treatment includes anti-inflammatory drugs and immunesuppressants. Those drugs
are effective in reducing symptoms but have severe adverse effects with
long-term use.
Researchers in Taiwan carried out an experimental study
to investigate the effectiveness and mechanism of acupuncture on colitis model.
They performed electroacupuncture (ranging from 1 Hz, 10 Hz to 100 Hz) on
acupoints PC3 and PC6 on mouse model of colitis 30 min daily for 7 days. At the
end of acupuncture researchers used Immunohistochemistry to look at pathological
changes and used microarray analysis to look the changes in inflammation
related gene expression. Acupuncture stimulation with 100 Hz significantly improved
the mucosa integration, ulceration, thickening of colonic wall of the large intestine
in the model compared with other acupuncture treated groups and control group. This
was accompanied by markedly reduction in many elevated cytokine gene
expression.
The study suggested that acupuncture modulated gene
expression associated with immune system and inflammatory responses and
improved the condition of colitis.
Reference:
Ho TY, et al., Electroacupuncture
improves trinitrobenzene sulfonic Acid-induced colitis, evaluated by
transcriptomic study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:942196. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24995035
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