Skip Navigation



eCAM Advance Access published online on August 18, 2006
eCAM, doi:10.1093/ecam/nel054
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrowOA All Versions of this Article:
4/1/51    most recent
nel054v1
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Yim, Y.-K.
Right arrow Articles by Kim, J.-E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Yim, Y.-K.
Right arrow Articles by Kim, J.-E.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© 2006 The Author(s).
Received November 16, 2005
Accepted July 5, 2006

Original Article

Electro-acupuncture at acupoint ST36 reduces inflammation and regulates immune activity in Collagen-Induced Arthritic Mice

Yun-Kyoung Yim 1 *, Hyun Lee 2, Kwon-Eui Hong 2, Young-Il Kim 2, Byung-Ryul Lee 2, Chang-Gue Son 3, and Jung-Eun Kim 1

1 Department of Meridian and Acupoint, College of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon university, South Korea
2 Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon university, South Korea
3 East-West Cancer Center of Dunsan Hospital, College of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon university, South Korea

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Yun-Kyoung Yim, E-mail: docwindy{at}dju.ac.kr


  Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and immuno-regulatory effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) at ST36 on Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice. Male DBA/1J mice were divided into five groups: Normal, Control, NR (needle retention), EAI and EAII. All mice except those in the normal group were immunized with Collagen II for arthritis induction. Acupuncture needles were inserted into mice ST36 and electrical currents at a frequency of 2 Hz in a continuous rectangular wave form were conducted through the needles for 15 min, 3 times a week. EA treatments were administered for 5 weeks in the EAI group and for 9 weeks in the EAII group. The mice in the NR group were acupunctured in the same manner as the EA groups and the needles were retained for 15 min without electrical stimulation. CIA incidence analysis, ELISA, histological analysis and FACS analysis were performed to evaluate the effect of EA on CIA. EA at ST36 significantly reduced CIA incidence, IL-6, TNF-a, INF-{gamma}, collagen II antibody, IgG and IgM levels in CIA mice serum and prevented knee joint destruction. EA at ST36 also reduced CD69+/CD3e+ cells and CD11a+/CD19+ cells in CIA mice lymph nodes, and CD11b+/Gr1+ cells in CIA mice knee joints. The ratios of CD3e+ cells to CD19+ cells, and CD8+ cells to CD4+ cells were maintained closer to the normal range in the EA groups as compared with the control group or the NR group. EAII was more effective than EAI throughout all the measurements. The NR was effective as well, though less effective than EA. EA at ST36 may have an anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and immuno-regulatory effects on CIA in mice. The effectiveness is stronger when EA starts earlier and is applied longer. Needle retention without electrical stimulation may be effective on CIA as well, however less effective than EA. Electrical stimulation and acupoint ST36 may have synergistic effects on CIA.

Keywords: Electro-acupuncture (EA); ST36; Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA); Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Evid Based Complement Alternat MedHome page
H. Chen, S. Shoumura, S. Emura, and H. Isono
Tibetan Medicated-Bath Therapy may Improve Adjuvant Arthritis in Rat
Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., June 1, 2009; 6(2): 211 - 217.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Evid Based Complement Alternat MedHome page
V. Senna-Fernandes, D. L. M. Franca, D. de Souza, K. C. M. Santos, R. S. Sousa, C. V. Manoel, S. D. Santos-Filho, M. Bernardo-Filho, and M. A. M. Guimaraes
Acupuncture at 'Zusanli' (St.36) and 'Sanyinjiao' (SP.6) Points on the Gastrointestinal Tract: A Study of the Bioavailability of 99mTc-Sodium Pertechnetate in Rats
Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., February 12, 2009; (2009) nep009v1.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.