Improvement in inflammation and airway remodelling after acupuncture at BL13 and ST36 in a mouse model of chronic asthma

Abstract

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Chronic asthma is commonly resistant to steroid therapy. Acupuncture has an anti-inflammatory effect and has been widely used as an add-on therapy for asthma. Objective: To evaluate the effects of acupuncture on the inflammatory response and airway remodelling in the bronchioles of an asthma mouse model. Methods: A chronic asthma model was produced in female BALB/c mice by ovalbumin (OVA) sensitisation. 32 mice were randomised into four groups: control; asthma (OVA); OVA+BL13; and OVA+BL13+ST36. OVA was administered by intraperitoneal injection on days 0 and 14 followed by aerosol exposure of 1% OVA three times a week for 6 weeks. Manual acupuncture (MA) was performed three times a week for 6 weeks at BL13 alone, or BL13 in combination with ST36, in the two MA-treated groups. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected to determine eosinophil and neutrophil counts and lung tissue was prepared for histological examination. Results: A pronounced reduction in the neutrophil count was achieved after MA at BL13+ST36 (P=0.005) while the eosinophil count was lowered after MA both at BL13 (P=0.007) and BL13+ST36 (P=0.006). Reduction in the bronchiolar epithelial and smooth muscle thickness and the number of goblet cells was observed after MA at BL13 (P=0.001, P=0.001 and P=0.002, respectively) and BL13+ST36 (P=0.001, P=0.002 and P=0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Acupuncture can reduce the inflammatory response and prevent airway remodelling in a chronic asthma mouse model.

The Anti-Inflammatory Actions and Mechanisms of Acupuncture from Acupoint to Target Organs via Neuro-Immune Regulation

“…It was reported that EA at BL13, combined with ST36, reduces inflammatory cell aggregation, down-regulates the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β, reduces epithelial smooth muscle thickness and cup cell metaplasia, and improves bronchiole structure in an asthma model, while a single use of BL13 produces no significant effect. 49 In the meantime, a combination of acupuncture and medicine often produces a specific synergistic effect on diseases. For example, the combined treatment of EA and IL-10 (Virus-encoded IL-10) enhances its curative effect on sinusitis by specifically targeting IFN‑γ.…”

Acupuncture for Asthma: Its Potential Significance in Clinical Practice

“…A number of studies have reported that acupuncture has anti-inflammatory effects in animal models of asthma as well as in humans. These effects include reducing the numbers of inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils and eosinophils, [8][9][10] regulating the adaptive immune system (i.e., maintaining the balance of T-helper cell activity, reducing the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and promoting the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines), [11][12][13][14][15] ameliorating signs of airway remodeling, 10 and regulating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function. 9…”

“…9 In addition, Nurwati, et al, reported, in 2019, that MA at BL 13 and ST 36 could reduce the numbers of inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils and eosinophils in the blood, in a mouse model of chronic asthma. 10…”

“…Acupuncture treatment for 2 weeks significantly reduced the thickness of the bronchial epithelium and smooth muscle and reduced the number of Goblet cells in the bronchioles. 10…”

“…19 A summary of the methods including the acupuncture points used in asthma studies is provided in Table 1. 2,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]20,21…”