[Effect of Acupuncture on the Expression of Transcription Factor T-bet/GATA-3 in Plasma of Rats with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of acupuncture on the expression of T-box expressed in T cell (T-bet)/GATA binding factor-3 (GATA-3) in plasma of rats with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and explore the mechanism of acupuncture treatment for CFS.

METHODS

Forty-eight healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group, CFS model group, acupuncture group, and ginsenoside group (12 rats in each group). CFS rat model was established by combining restriction and cold water swimming. Acupuncture was applied to "Baihui"(GV 20), "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Zusanli" (ST 36, bilate-ral) acupoints, once a day for two weeks. The ginsenoside group was gavage administrated with ginsenoside, once a day for two weeks. After 14 days, behavioural changes were observed, and the expression levels of T-bet/GATA-3 genes in plasma were detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTS

Compared with the blank control group, the time for immobility of forced suspensory test was signi-ficantly longer (<0.05) and the time for exhaustive swimming was significantly shortened (<0.05) in the CFS model group. Compared with the model group, the two indexes above-mentioned were reversed (<0.05) both in the acupuncture group and the ginsenoside group, and the effects in the acupuncture group were more significant than those in the ginsenoside group (<0.05). Compared with the blank control group, the expression level of T-cell transcription factor T-bet gene in plasma was higher in the CFS model group (<0.05), companied with lower GATA-3 gene expression (<0.05). The ratio of T-bet/GATA-3 was higher in the model group than in the blank control group(<0.05). Compared with the CFS model group, all the indexes above-mentioned were reversed (<0.05) in the two treatment groups. Acupuncture group showed a better effect on reducing T-bet gene expression than the ginsenoside group (<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Acupuncture can decrease the expression level of T-bet gene while increase the expression of GATA-3 gene, which may be associated with its role in treating CFS.