Electroacupuncture improved colitis by modulating the expression of inflammation related genes

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

Acupuncture and moxibustion reversed pathological changes in Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition, which can affect the whole of the digestive tract from mouth to anus. Inflammation extends to all layers of gut wall and often in patch surrounded by healthy tissue. The most commonly affected sites are the lower part of the small intestine and the first part of the large intestine. Symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, chronic diarrhea and loss of appetite.  Symptoms can come and go and vary depending on which part or parts of gut are affected. Crohn’s disease often develops between the ages of 20 and 40, although it can occur in children and old adults. Malnutrition and dehydration are common complications of Crohn’s. The cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown though it is believed that the immune system, genetics, infection and environmental factor all contribute to its development. There is no cure for Crohn’s disease. Medication and diet only help control the condition and sometime bring about long-term remission.

Acupuncture is increasingly used to treat Crohn’s disease in western countries. It effectively treats patients with Crohn’s disease by alleviating visceral pain, improve diarrhea and appetite. How does acupuncture improve Crohn’s disease is not well understood until recent reports. The basic research study on Crohn’s disease model reported that acupuncture and moxibustion specifically regulated the expression of the genes and proteins involved in Crohn’s pathological process such as fibrosis. The proteins and genes e.g. Ras, Raf-1, MEK-1, and ERK-1/2 were significantly increased in the fibrosis gut tissues of Crohn’s model. Acupuncture and moxibustion reversed the process of fibrosis and markedly decreased the elevated levels of those proteins and genes. The study suggests that acupuncture and moxibustion exert the therapeutic effect by specifically regulating molecular and cellular molecules to reverse the pathological changes in Crohn’s disease model.

Reference:

Wang X et al., Moxibustion Inhibits the ERK Signaling Pathway and Intestinal Fibrosis in Rats with Crohn's Disease. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:198282. doi: 10.1155/2013/198282.   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23970928