摘要
OBJECTIVE:To explore the correlation between acupuncture treatment for allergic rhinitis(AR) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA) axis regulation by investigating changes in serum immune factors,HPA axis-associated hormone levels,activation levels of paraventricular nucleus(PVN) neurons,and the severity of nasal mucosal lesions,in rats with AR before and after acupuncture treatment.METHODS:After establishing the AR rat model,ovalbumin was administered via nasal drip to all groups except the blank control.Each group received continuous treatment for 14 d:the acupuncture,acupuncture + RU-486(mifepristone),and RU-486 groups received acupuncture only,RU486 intraperitoneal injection and acupuncture,and RU-486 intraperitoneal injection only,respectively.Following the intervention period,behavioral scoring was performed on all AR rats,and peripheral blood,nasal mucosa samples,and brains tissue(containing PVN region) were obtained following euthanization.Interleukin(IL-4,IL-5,IL-13),interferon gamma(IFN-γ),corticosterone(CORT),and corticotrophin-releasing hormone(CRH) levels were evaluated in peripheral blood samples.Adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunoassay assay,and hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed on the nasal mucosa samples.The expression levels of c-Fos in PVN neurons following acupuncture treatment were evaluated by immunofluorescent staining.RESULTS:Following the intervention period,the behavioral scores for the blank control group were lower than those of other groups(P < 0.05),while the acupuncture group scores were lower than those in the model control,acupuncture + RU486,and RU486 groups(P < 0.05).The blank control group had lower serum IL-4,IL-5,and IL-13 levels than those in the other groups(P < 0.05).The acupuncture group had lower serum IL-4,IL-5,and IL-13 levels than those in the model control,acupuncture + RU486,and RU486 groups(P < 0.05).The blank control group had the highest serum IFN-γ levels among all groups,followed by the acupuncture group.The serum CORT,CRH,and ACTH levels in the blank control group were lower than those in the remaining groups(P < 0.05).These biomarker levels were also lower in the acupuncture group than those in the model control,acupuncture + RU486,and RU486 groups(P < 0.05).Compared with model,rats in the acupuncture group exhibited an increased c-Fos expression in PVN neurons.CONCLUSION:Acupuncture can alleviate AR symptoms and regulate serum inflammatory factor levels and HPA axis-related hormones in AR rats.Moreover,these effects are inhibited by glucocorticoid antagonists,suggesting that acupuncture may regulate AR symptoms through HPA axis regulation.
基金
the National Natural Science Foundation of China:to Explore the Mechanism of Acupuncture Treatment on Rats with Allergic Rhinitis from the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis and Serum Immune Factor Levels (No.82004455)。
