The Mechanism of Immunomodulatory Effect by Electro-acupuncture in 2, 4-Dinitrophenylated Keyhole Limpet Protein Immunized Mice

족삼리(足三里) 전침자극(電鍼刺戟)이 알러지모델 생쥐의 면역능(免疫能)에 미치는 영향(影響) 및 기전(機轉)에 관한 연구(硏究)

Objective : The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on ST36 to modulate immune reaction in BALB/c mice immunized intraperitoneally with 2,4-dinitrophenylated keyhole limpet protein(DNP-KLH). Methods : Experimental mice were divided into four groups : 1) Normal group was not performed by any operation. 2) IM(Immunized) group was immunized intraperitoneally with DNP-KLH and aluminum hydroxide without electro-acupunture stimulation. 3) IM-EA(immunized-elctro- acupuncture) group was performed by successive electro-acupuncture on the ST36 acupoint after immunization. 4) IM-NA(immunized-naloxone) group was performed by immunization and electro-acupuncture with same method, but naloxone was injected intraperitoneally 30 minutes before eletro-acupuncture to inhibit the opiate receptor in spleen. Serum total immunoglobulin I(IgE) and antigen-specific IgE was measured in each group. The expression of interferon-${\gamma}$ and interleukin-4 mRNA in spleen was researched by real-time RT-PCR Results : Serum total-IgE and antigen-specific IgE were significantly decreased only in IM-EA group. The expression of interleukin-4 in spleen cell was significantly reduced not only in IM-EA group, but also in IM-EA group. Conclusions : Above results indicate that the mechanism of immunomodulatory effect of electro-acupuncture is related to opioid system especially in B-cell immune reaction. Further research on the T-cell immunity is necessary to explain the mechanism of immunomodulatory effect of electro-acupuncture.

본 연구에서는 전침자극이 면역계의 THl/TH2 분화평형에 미치는 영향과 opioid system 과의 관계를 알아보고자 DNP-KLH의 자극을 통해 IgE 매개 알러지 반응모델을 구축하고 족삼리(足三里).에 전침자극을 가한 후 TH1/TH2 분화평형 및 opioid receptor antagonist인 naloxone에 의 한 반전여부를 확인하기 위해 total IgE, antigen-specific IgE, IFN-${\gamma}$ 및 IL-4 mRNA 발현량을 측정하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. 전침자극은 DNP-KLH로 인해 과도하게 생산 된 혈청 total IgE 및 antigen-specific IgE를 감소시킴으로서 알러지 반응에 대한 유의한 억제능을 발휘하였으며, naloxone 투여로 전침 의 효과가 상쇠된 것으로 미루어 opioid system이 전침에 의한 항알러지 효과에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 추정된다. 2. 또한 전침자극은 DNP-KLH로 인한 TH2 cytokine의 편향상태에 대하여 TH1/TH2 평형조절능을 가진다는 것을 확인하였으며, naloxone으로 반전되지 않는 것으로 미루어 전침이 미치는 보조 T cell 분화에 대한 효과 는 opioid system에 의존하지 않는 것으로 추정된다.