Han Run-Xia, Yang Jing, Zhang Tian-Sheng, Zhang Wei-Dong
Shanxi College of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan 030024, China.
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2012 Apr;37(2):114-8.
To observe the effect of fire-needle intervention on serum IL-1 and TNF-alpha contents in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rats so as to study its underlying mechanism in improving RA.
A total of 40 Wistar rats were randomized into normal control, model, methotrexate (MTX, medication) group and fire-needle groups, with 10 cases in each group. RA model was established by injecting Freund's complete adjuvant (0.1 mL) into the rats' right hind paw. Fire-needle was applied to "Jiaji" (EX-B 2),"Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Ashi point" (the most severe site of the swelling joint), once every three days and 8 times altogether. The rat's right hindpaw swelling volume was detected by volumetric method, and serum IL-1 and TNF-alpha contents were determined by double antibody sandwich ELISA. The pathological changes of synovium tissue of the right knee-joint were observed by optical microscope.
In comparison with the control group, the swollen paw volumes at time-points of 12 d, 19 d, 26 d and 33 d after modeling and serum IL-1 and TNF-alpha contents were increased significantly (P < 0.01). Compared to the model group, the swollen paw volumes on day 33 in both medication and fire-needle groups were decreased considerably (P < 0.01), while serum IL-1 and TNF-alpha contents in the medication and fire-needle groups were reduced significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). No significant differences were found between the medication and fire-needle groups in the swollen paw volumes on day 12 (P > 0.05). The pathological states (synovial cells' arrangement, inflammatory infiltration, synovial membrane thickening, etc.) of synovium tissue of the right knee-joint in both medication and fire-needle groups were relatively lighter than those of the model group.
Fire-needle therapy can down-regulate serum IL-1 and TNF-alpha contents in rheumatoid arthritis rats, and reduce the degree of arthroncus of the affected joint, which may contribute to its effect in improving synovial lesions.
观察火针干预对类风湿关节炎（RA）大鼠血清白细胞介素-1（IL-1）和肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）含量的影响，以探讨其改善RA的潜在机制。
将40只Wistar大鼠随机分为正常对照组、模型组、甲氨蝶呤（MTX，药物）组和火针组，每组10只。通过向大鼠右后足注射弗氏完全佐剂（0.1 mL）建立RA模型。取“夹脊”（EX-B 2）、“足三里”（ST 36）及“阿是穴”（关节肿胀最严重处）进行火针治疗，每3天1次，共8次。采用容积法检测大鼠右后足肿胀体积，采用双抗体夹心ELISA法测定血清IL-1和TNF-α含量。用光镜观察右膝关节滑膜组织的病理变化。
与对照组比较，造模后12 d、19 d、26 d及33 d时大鼠右后足肿胀体积及血清IL-1和TNF-α含量均显著升高（P<0.01）。与模型组比较，药物组和火针组在第33天时右后足肿胀体积均显著减小（P<0.01），而药物组和火针组血清IL-1和TNF-α含量均显著降低（P<0.05，P<0.01）。药物组与火针组在第12天时右后足肿胀体积比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。药物组和火针组右膝关节滑膜组织的病理状态（滑膜细胞排列、炎性浸润、滑膜增厚等）均较模型组轻。
火针疗法可下调类风湿关节炎大鼠血清IL-1和TNF-α含量，减轻患关节的肿胀程度，这可能是其改善滑膜病变的作用机制。
