经皮穴位电刺激对结直肠癌大鼠免疫功能的改善作用及其机制

Improvement of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on immune function of rats with colorectal cancer and its mechanism

目的探讨经皮穴位电刺激(TEAS)对结直肠癌大鼠免疫功能的改善作用及其机制。方法将40只SD雄性大鼠随机分为空白对照组、模型组、经皮非穴位刺激组、TEAS组,各10只。除空白对照组外,其他组大鼠均建立结直肠癌模型。建模结束后,分别给予经皮非穴位刺激组、TEAS组大鼠于双下肢非穴位处、足三里穴行电刺激治疗,其他两组未给予任何处理。实验期间,观察各组大鼠的一般情况。于实验结束后,检测各组大鼠血清CD4^(+)T淋巴细胞和CD8^(+)T淋巴细胞含量、CD4^(+)/CD8^(+)值、核因子κB(NF-κB)mRNA表达水平及癌组织中NF-κB(p65)蛋白表达水平。结果建模后,模型组、经皮非穴位刺激组、TEAS组大鼠的精神状态萎靡,饮水、摄食和活动减少;实验末期,TEAS组大鼠饮水、摄食恢复正常,活动量增加。实验结束后,与模型组和经皮非穴位刺激组比较,空白对照组和TEAS组CD8^(+)T淋巴细胞含量降低,CD4^(+)/CD8^(+)值升高,NF-κB mRNA和NF-κB(p65)蛋白的表达水平均下调(均P<0.05)。结论TEAS治疗可改善结直肠癌大鼠的免疫功能,其或通过调控NF-κB信号通路来发挥作用。

Objective To explore the improvement of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS)on immune function of rats with colorectal cancer and its mechanism.Methods A total of 40 male SD rats were randomly assigned to blank control group,model group,transcutaneous non-acupoint stimulation group,or TEAS group,with 10 rats in each group.Except for the blank control group,the colorectal cancer model was established in rats of the remaining groups.After the end of modeling,electrical stimulation therapy was given to the non-acupoint and Zusanli acupoint(ST36)of both lower extremities of rats in the transcutaneous non-acupoint stimulation group and the TEAS group,respectively,whereas the remaining 2 groups did not receive any treatment.During experiment,the general states of rats in various groups were observed.After the end of experiment,the contents of serum CD4^(+)T lymphocyte and CD8^(+)T lymphocyte,CD4^(+)/CD8^(+)value,nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB)mRNA expression,and protein expression of NF-κB(p65)in cancerous tissues were detected in rats of various groups.Results After modeling,rats in the model,transcutaneous non-acupoint stimulation,and TEAS groups presented as listlessness,and decline of drinking water,taking food,and activity.At the end of experiment,rats in the TEAS group resumed normal water drinking and food taking,and presented as increase of activity.After the end of experiment,compared with the model and transcutaneous non-acupoint stimulation groups,the blank control and TEAS groups yielded decreased content of CD8^(+)T lymphocyte,elevated CD4^(+)/CD8^(+)value,and down-regulated expressions of NF-κB mRNA and NF-κB(p65)protein(all P<0.05).Conclusion TEAS therapy can ameliorate immune function of rats with colorectal cancer,and it may exert effects through regulating NF-κB signaling pathway.