Effects of acupuncture-moxibustion on contents of IL-12 and TNF-α in spleen of cyclophosphamide- induced cancer-bearing mice / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the molecular biology mechanism of acupuncture on improving immune function damage induced by chemotherapy in cancer-bearing mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-two mice (36 mice in 3-day treatment and 5-day treatment, respectively) which were successfully made into cancer-bearing model were divided into a blank group, a model group, an acupuncture group and a moxibustion group by stratified randomization method, 9 mice in each one. Except for the mice in the blank group, the remaining mice were treated with intra-peritoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CTX, 150 mg/kg), to establish the cancer-bearing mice of CTX. The mice in the blank group were treated with intraperitoneal injection of 0.9% NaCl (identical dose as other groups). After 4 h, the mice in the acupuncture group and moxibustion group were treated with acupuncture and moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Geshu" (BL 17), "Shenshu" (BL 23), "Zusanli" (ST 36), once a day. The mice in the blank group and model group were treated with immobilization and fixation during the same time. On the next day of the end of 3-day and 5-day treatment, the sample was collected. The ELISA method was applied to measure the contents of IL-12 and TNF-α in spleen of all the mice.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 3-day and 5-day treatment, compared with the blank group, the contents of IL-12 and TNF-α in spleen in the model group were reduced (all P < 0.05); compared with the model group, the contents of IL-12 and TNF-α in spleen in the acupuncture group and moxibustion group were increased (all P < 0.05), but the content of IL-12 and TNF-α in the acupuncture group was not different from that in the moxibustion group (both P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture and moxibustion could effectively increase the contents of IL-12 and TNF-α in spleen of CTX cancer-bearing mice, which could relieve chemotherapy-induced immune function damage to improve immune function.</p>

Effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on serum contents of hematopoietic growth factor in mice with marrow inhibition / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe serum contents of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in mice with marrow inhibition before and after acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, so as to discuss the molecular biological mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion on improving marrow inhibition and increasing white cells after chemotherapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty clean-grade male Kunming mice were selected and randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, an acupuncture group and a moxibustion group according to the weight, 20 cases in each one. Mice in the model group, acupuncture group and moxibustion group were injected with cyclophosphamide (CTX) to establish mice models of marrow inhibition, while mice in the normal group received intraperitoneal injection of 0.9% NaCl. Four hours after model establishment, mice in the acupuncture group and moxibustion group were treated with acupuncture or moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Geshu" (BL 17), "Shenshu" (BL 23) and "Zusanli" (ST 36), respectively. Mice in the normal group and model group were immobilized without any treatment. All the treatment was given once a day for consecutive 5 days. Mice blood samples were collected from caudal vein. With manual examination, the white blood cells in peripheral blood were measured on each day from model establishment to end of treatment. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to measure the serum contents of GM-CSF and G-CSF 3 days and 5 days after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal group, the white cells in the model group were all reduced at each time point (all P<0.05), and the serum contents of GM-CSF and G-CSF were significantly reduced (all P<0.05). Three days after treatment, compared with the model group, the white cells in the acupuncture group and moxibustion group were increased, and the difference in acupuncture group was significant (P<0.05); the serum contents of GM-CSF and G-CSF were significantly lifted (P<0.05). Four days after treatment, compared with the model group, the white cells in the acupuncture group and moxibustion group were increased (both P<0.05). Five days after treatment, compared with the model group, the white cells in the acupuncture group and moxibustion group were increased and close to the normal level; the serum contents of GM-CSF and G-CSF were significantly lifted (all P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Through increasing serum contents of GM-CSF and G-CSF in CTX mice, acupuncture and moxibustion could prompt maturation and proliferation of myeloid hematopoietic cells, which is benefit to the reconstruction of hematopoietic function and relieve the marrow inhibition caused by CTX, and thus lift peripheral white blood cells.</p>