Acupuncture is recognized as a procedure to regulate functions of human body.In addition to its known effects on nerve system

emerging evidence suggests that acupuncture also delivers its efficacy through innate immune system.Innate immune system includes three major parts

cytokine activity

complement activity

and cell-based activity.Although initially characterized as natural defense mechanism

innate immune system

especially

the Th1/Th2 cytokine/chemokine networks

plays important roles in regulation of many physiological functions including inflammatory/anti-inflammatory activity

pain

metabolism

cell proliferation and apoptosis.Moreover

innate immune system interacts closely with peripheral and central nerve systems.Roles of cytokines/immune cells(macrophages and T cells) in nerve functions and pathogenesis of neuronal diseases have been increasingly recognized.Likewise

CNS through hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA) axis and cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway adjusts immune activity.We present a testable model to validate the effect of acupuncture in innate immune system.The model emphasizes the existence of dynamic cytokine network.The goal is to demonstrate that the combined neuro-immune function is a general mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of different diseases.