脑肠肽在针刺调节免疫反应中的作用

A study of regulatory effects of brain-gut peptides on the nerve-endocrine-immunoregulation network by acupuncture in rats

目的 :研究电针 (EA)刺激足三里穴时脑肠肽对大鼠神经 内分泌 免疫网络的影响。方法 :将大鼠随机分成正常对照组、足三里组、免疫抑制组、非经非穴组、足三里 +免疫抑制组。同步观察电针后某些脑肠肽及免疫功能的变化。应用放射免疫法测定脑垂体和外周血P物质 (SP)、血管活性肠肽 (VIP)的含量 ;应用流式细胞仪技术测定外周血T细胞亚群以反映细胞免疫功能 ;应用红细胞C3b受体 酵母菌花环试验和红细胞 IC花环试验检测红细胞免疫功能。结果 :电针刺激足三里穴后大鼠外周血的CD4+ 、RBC C3bRR、RBC ICR均明显升高 (P均 <0 0 1) ,CD8+ 无显著变化 (P >0 0 5 ) ;脑垂体和外周血中SP、VIP的含量增加 (P均 <0 0 1) ;且CD4+ 与SP、VIP含量的变化 (r =0 744 ,P <0 0 5 ;r =0 738,P <0 0 5 ;r =0 82 2 ,P <0 0 5 ;r=0 848,P <0 0 5 )、CD4+ 和RBC C3bRR呈显著正相关 (r =0 719,P <0 0 5 )。非经非穴组的各项指标与正常对照组相比无显著差异 (P >0 0 5 )。结论 :电针刺激足三里穴在调控胃肠功能的同时可引起多种脑肠肽的变化 ,这些脑肠肽又作为调节因子 ,对全身免疫系统发生影响 ,同时免疫网络之间、调节因子之间也存在着相互调节和制约 ,形成一个复杂、有机的网络体系 。

Objective:To investigate regulatory effects of electro acupuncture (EA) at Tsusanli (He Sea Point, St 36) on changes in ir SP and ir VIP content in rats' pituitary gland and peripheral blood as well as on their cellular immunity and erythrocytic immunity; and to explore the mechanism, or rather, the coordinating effects of the nerve endocrine immunoregulation network and the possible inner relationship between the many factors involved in the coordination.Methods:The rats were randomized into 5 groups, including the control, the Tsusanli, the immunosuppressive model, the non acupoint group and the Tsusanli+immunosuppressive groups. Changes in substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) contents in the pituitary gland and peripheral blood were determined by radio immunoassay. By micro whole blood direct immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry and T lymphocytic subgroups were assayed to reflect the cellular immunity. Erythrocytic immunity was assayed by red blood cell C 3b receptor rosette (RBC C 3b RR) and red blood cell immune complexes rosette (RBC ICR).Results:Ir SP and ir VIP content in the pituitary gland and peripheral blood and CD4 + and RBC C 3b RR in the peripheral blood of the rats of the immunosuppressive group were significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.01, P<0.01, P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively). There was no significant change in CD8 + content (P>0.05) of all the groups. There was no significant difference between the indexes of the Tsusanli+immunosuppressive group and that of the control group (P>0.05). After EA at Tsusanli, a significant increase was observed in ir SP and ir VIP content in the pituitary gland and peripheral blood, CD4 +, RBC C 3b RR, RBC ICR in the peripheral blood of the normal rats (P<0.01) whereas CD8 + didn't change significantly (P>0.05). SP and VIP contents in the pituitary gland and the peripheral blood increased (P<0.01). Besides, the change in CD4 + content and that in SP and VIP contents were positively correlated with each other (r=0.744, P<0.05; r=0.738, P<0.05;r=0.822, P<0.05; r=0.848, P<0.05) and so were that between CD4 + and RBC C 3b RR (r=0.719, P<0.05). No significant difference was observed between the indexes of non acupoint group and that of the control. Conclusion:EA at Tsusanli (He Sea Point, St 36) can improve the cellular immunity and erythrocytic immuno adhesiveness of normal rats and immunosuppressed rats. Moreover, the changes in SP and VIP contents in the pituitary gland and peripheral blood indicate that EA can improve immunity of the body. The mechanism of this is probably related to the increased synthesis and release of gastrointestinal hormones, which in turn affects the nerve endocrine immunoregulation network by means of these immuno transmitters.