为了探讨艾灸治疗RA抗炎免疫作用的机理

我们建立免疫性炎症———大鼠佐剂性关节炎模型等

从神经 内分泌 免疫调控入手

在整体、器官、细胞水平开展灸治RA的实验研究。结果艾灸“肾俞”、“足三里”穴具有抗炎免疫作用

其机理与灸疗抑制TNF、IL 1等炎症因子的释放

增强与改善机体的免疫功能

保护胸腺、脾脏等免疫器官

纠正炎症时自由基代谢的紊乱

调整NO、NE、5 HT神经递质的失衡

促进内环境稳定等多方面因素有关。实验证实

外周交感神经参与艾灸对免疫的调节 ;灸疗的部分作用是通过肾上腺皮质系统发挥的 ;海马可能是灸疗信息中枢整合的重要环节 ;HPA轴是灸疗作用中一条重要的神经体液性途径 ;松果体 (MT)可能是艾灸抗炎免疫的一个高位调节点。提示灸疗抗炎免疫作用是其治疗RA的主要机制之一In the present paper

the authors summarize their resu l ts of study on the mechanism of moxibustion of "Shenshu"(BL 23) and "Zusanli"( ST 36) for resisting inflammation and modulating immune function in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (AA) rats.1)Anti-inflammatory effect: In AA rats

afte r 3 sessions of moxibustion

the c ircumferences of the swollen ankle of BL-23 group (2.33±0.19 cm) and ST-3 6 grou p (2.35±0.11 cm) were smaller than that of control group (2.69±0.22 cm) . In de layed general polyarthritis rats of these two moxibustion groups

the number o f inflammatory nodes at the ear and tail was less than that of control group. 2) Reducing release of inflammatory mediators: Following moxibustion

the elevated contents of blood tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-1 in AA rats decreased sig n ificantly compared with control group ( P <0.05). Moxibustion could also reduc e th e release of histamine and 5-HT. 3) Modulating free radical metabolism: In AA r a ts

moxibustion could reduce blood nitric oxide (NO) and malondiadehyde levels a nd raise SOD activity. 4) Regulating immunofunction: Moxibustion could cause th e endogenous IL-2 level thymus index to raise and reduce the secretion of IL-1 o f the over-excited megoxycytes and lower the spleen index in AA rats. Following removal of the adrenal gland or sympathetectomy (with 6-OHDA)

the effects of m o xibustion in modulating immunofunction were weakened significantly. 5) Regulatin g central neurotransmitter level: In AA rats

following moxibustion

the elevate d NE and 5-HT contents in the hypothalamus were upregulated

while the elevated NO level was downregulated. 6) Involvement of hippocampus and pineal gland in th e effects of moxibustion: In AA rats

after injection of 6-OHDA for destruction of adrenagic nerve

the effect of moxibustion on reduction of inflammatory respo nse of the ankle was weakened. In addition

the decreased level of melatonin (MT ) of the pineal gland tissue in AA rats was raised by moxibustion. In a word

mo xibustion induced anti-inflammation and modulation of immunofunction may contri bute to its therapeutic effect in improving rheumatoid arthritis.