Cheng Mi, Shang Pan-Pan, Wei Dan-Dan, Long Jie, Zhang Xue, Wu Quan-Long, Bassi Gabriel Shimizu, Wang Yu, Chen Yan-Jiao, Yin Lei-Miao, Yang Yong-Qing, Xu Yu-Dong
Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian,Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Chin Med. 2025 May 22;20(1):67. doi: 10.1186/s13020-025-01119-9.
Allergic asthma features Th2-mediated airway inflammation, with dendritic cells (DCs) playing a crucial role. Acupuncture shows promise in modulating immune responses, yet its mechanisms in allergic asthma are not well understood. This study explores how acupuncture alleviates Th2 airway inflammation by modulating lung CD11b DCs.
Female BALB/c mice were assigned to control and asthma model groups, with subsets receiving acupuncture at Dazhui (GV14), Fengmen (BL12), and Feishu (BL13). We evaluated airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), immune cell infiltration, histological changes, Th2 cytokine production, and serum IgE levels. The effects of acupuncture serum on T cell activation and bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) were assessed. The role of CD11b DCs was analyzed using flow cytometry, cytokine assays, and adoptive transfer experiments. Epithelial-derived alarmins and type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) were also examined.
Acupuncture significantly reduced AHR, immune cell infiltration, goblet cell hyperplasia, and serum IgE levels in HDM-induced allergic asthma. It also suppressed Th2 cytokine production and differentiation. While acupuncture serum did not directly affect T cell activation, it modulated BMDC activity. Adoptive transfer of acupuncture-treated lung DCs into asthmatic mice reduced Th2 cell recruitment and ameliorated airway inflammation. Acupuncture reduced the population of lung CD11b DCs and downregulated the expression of activation markers such as CD86 and OX40L, along with Th2-promoting chemokines CCL17 and CCL22. Furthermore, it influenced CD11b DC migration by modulating CCR7, CCL2, and CCL8 expression. Acupuncture suppressed epithelial-derived alarmins IL-25, IL-33, and TSLP, attenuating ILC2 accumulation and activation, which indirectly affected CD11b DCs and Th2 responses.
Acupuncture alleviates Th2 airway inflammation in allergic asthma by modulating lung CD11b DC activities. These findings provide new insights into acupuncture-based therapeutic strategies for asthma.
过敏性哮喘以Th2介导的气道炎症为特征，树突状细胞（DCs）在其中起关键作用。针灸在调节免疫反应方面显示出前景，但其在过敏性哮喘中的机制尚不完全清楚。本研究探讨针灸如何通过调节肺CD11b DCs来减轻Th2气道炎症。
将雌性BALB/c小鼠分为对照组和哮喘模型组，部分小鼠在大椎（GV14）、风门（BL12）和肺俞（BL13）接受针刺。我们评估了气道高反应性（AHR）、免疫细胞浸润、组织学变化、Th2细胞因子产生和血清IgE水平。评估了针刺血清对T细胞活化和骨髓来源树突状细胞（BMDCs）的影响。使用流式细胞术、细胞因子检测和过继转移实验分析了CD11b DCs的作用。还检测了上皮来源的警戒素和2型固有淋巴细胞（ILC2s）。
针灸显著降低了HDM诱导的过敏性哮喘中的AHR、免疫细胞浸润、杯状细胞增生和血清IgE水平。它还抑制了Th2细胞因子的产生和分化。虽然针刺血清没有直接影响T细胞活化，但它调节了BMDC活性。将经针刺处理的肺DCs过继转移到哮喘小鼠体内可减少Th2细胞募集并改善气道炎症。针灸减少了肺CD11b DCs的数量，下调了CD86和OX40L等活化标志物以及Th2促进趋化因子CCL17和CCL22的表达。此外，它通过调节CCR7、CCL2和CCL8的表达影响CD11b DC迁移。针灸抑制了上皮来源的警戒素IL-25、IL-33和TSLP，减弱了ILC2的积累和活化，间接影响了CD11b DCs和Th2反应。
针灸通过调节肺CD11b DCs活性减轻过敏性哮喘中的Th2气道炎症。这些发现为基于针灸的哮喘治疗策略提供了新的见解。
