Electroacupuncture inhibits apoptosis of splenic lymphocytes in traumatized rats through modulation of the TNF-α/NF-κB signaling pathway

Wang,Kun; Wu,Huaxing; Chi,Meng; Zhang,Jian; Wang,Guonian; Li,Hulun

doi:10.3892/mmr.2014.2740

Electroacupuncture inhibits apoptosis of splenic lymphocytes in traumatized rats through modulation of the TNF-α/NF-κB signaling pathway

Authors:
- Kun Wang
- Huaxing Wu
- Meng Chi
- Jian Zhang
- Guonian Wang
- Hulun Li
View Affiliations

Affiliations: Department of Anesthesiology, The Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, P.R. China, Department of Endoscopy, The Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, P.R. China, Department of Neurobiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150006, P.R. China
Published online on: October 22, 2014 https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2014.2740
Pages: 237-241

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )

Metrics: Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )

Cited By (CrossRef): 0 citations Loading Articles...

Abstract

Surgical trauma leads to a severe deterioration of the immune system. Electroacupuncture (EA) may improve the immunodeficiency that occurs following surgery; however, the underlying signaling mechanisms require further study. In the present study, 40 rats were equally randomized into four groups: Control; Control + EA; Trauma; Trauma + EA. EA was applied at the ‘Zusanli’ (ST36) and ‘Lanwei’ (Extra37) acupoints, immediately following surgery. The splenic T cells were isolated from the rats 24 h after surgery. The apoptotic rate of the lymphocytes was measured by flow cytometric analysis, and western blotting was used to determine the protein expression levels of caspase‑3, caspase‑8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α and TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1). The DNA binding activity of nuclear factor (NF)‑κB was determined using Trans‑AM® ELISA‑based kits. The results of the present study showed that surgical trauma induced apoptosis of splenic lymphocytes, and significantly increased the protein expression levels of caspase‑3 and caspase‑8. This was accompanied by increased expression levels of TNF‑α and TNFR1, and a marked reduction in the activity of NF‑κB in splenic T cells. Administration of EA significantly decreased the expression levels of caspase‑3, caspase‑8, TNF‑α and TNFR1, elevated the activity of NF‑κB, and suppressed the apoptotic rate of the lymphocytes. The data suggests that EA may inhibit the apoptosis of splenic lymphocytes induced by surgical trauma, and ameliorate the postoperative immunosuppression. This may be mediated by the downregulation of TNF‑α expression levels and upregulation of the activity of NF‑κB.

View Figures

View References

1	Kimura F, Shimizu H, Yoshidome H, Ohtsuka M and Miyazaki M: Immunosuppression following surgical and traumatic injury. Surg Today. 40:793–808. 2010. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
2	Choudhry MA, Bland KI and Chaudry IH: Trauma and immune response - effect of gender differences. Injury. 38:1382–1391. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
3	Wang J, Wang YQ, Yu J, Cao XD and Wu GC: Electroacupuncture suppresses surgical trauma stress-induced lymphocyte apoptosis in rats. Neurosci Lett. 383:68–72. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
4	Angele MK and Chaudry IH: Surgical trauma and immunosuppression: pathophysiology and potential immunomodulatory approaches. Langenbecks Arch Surg. 390:333–341. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
5	Huang YS, Jiang JW, Cao XD and Wu GC: Melatonin enhances lymphocyte proliferation and decreases the release of pituitary pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptides in surgically traumatized rats. Neurosci Lett. 343:109–112. 2003. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
6	Wang G, Weng Y, Ishiguro Y, Sakamoto H and Morita S: The effect of tramadol on serum cytokine response in patients undergoing pulmonary lobectomy. J Clin Anesth. 17:444–450. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
7	Jiangyang L, Qian L, Xiaohong W, et al: Changes of spleen dendritic cells in the terminal stage of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Acta Biomed. 82:146–153. 2011.PubMed/NCBI
8	Sun Y, Gan TJ, Dubose JW and Habib AS: Acupuncture and related techniques for postoperative pain: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Br J Anaesth. 101:151–160. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
9	Pavão TS, Vianna P, Pillat MM, Machado AB and Bauer ME: Acupuncture is effective to attenuate stress and stimulate lymphocyte proliferation in the elderly. Neurosci Lett. 484:47–50. 2010.PubMed/NCBI
10	Kim SK and Bae H: Acupuncture and immune modulation. Auton Neurosci. 157:38–41. 2010. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
11	Cheng XD, Wu GC, Jiang JW, Du LN and Cao XD: Dynamic observation on regulation on spleen lymphocyte from the traumatized rats in vitro of continued electroacupuncture. Chung Kuo Mien I Hsueh Tsa Chih. 13:68–70. 1997.(In Chinese).
12	Cheng XD, Wu GC, He QZ and Cao XD: Effect of continued electroacupuncture on induction of interleukin-2 production of spleen lymphocytes from the injured rats. Acupunct Electrother Res. 22:1–8. 1997.PubMed/NCBI
13	Wang K, Wu H, Wang G, Li M, Zhang Z and Gu G: The effects of electroacupuncture on TH1/TH2 cytokine mRNA expression and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways in the splenic T cells of traumatized rats. Anesth Analg. 109:1666–1673. 2009. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
14	Engel D, Peshock R, Armstong RC, Sivasubramanian N and Mann DL: Cardiac myocyte apoptosis provokes adverse cardiac remodeling in transgenic mice with targeted TNF overexpression. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 287:H1303–H1311. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
15	Chen CC, Young JL, Monzon RI, Chen N, Todorović V and Lau LF: Cytotoxicity of TNFalpha is regulated by integrin-mediated matrix signaling. EMBO J. 26:1257–1267. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
16	Shen HM and Pervaiz S: TNF receptor superfamily-induced cell death: redox-dependent execution. FASEB J. 20:1589–1598. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
17	Liu J and Lin A: Role of JNK activation in apoptosis: a double-edged sword. Cell Res. 15:36–42. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
18	Varfolomeev EE and Ashkenazi A: Tumor necrosis factor: an apoptosis JuNKie? Cell. 116:491–497. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
19	Rui T and Kvietys PR: NFkappaB and AP-1 differentially contribute to the induction of Mn-SOD and eNOS during the development of oxidant tolerance. FASEB J. 19:1908–1910. 2005.PubMed/NCBI
20	Batistaki C, Kostopanagiotou G, Myrianthefs P, et al: Effect of exogenous catecholamines on tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and beta-endorphin levels following severe trauma. Vascul Pharmacol. 48:85–91. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar
21	Kawasaki T, Choudhry MA, Schwacha MG, et al: Trauma-hemorrhage inhibits splenic dendritic cell proinflammatory cytokine production via a mitogen-activated protein kinase process. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 294:C754–C764. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
22	Kawasaki T, Suzuki T, Choudhry MA, Bland KI and Chaudry IH: Salutary effects of 17beta-estradiol on Peyer’s patch T cell functions following trauma-hemorrhage. Cytokine. 51:166–172. 2010.
23	Zhang Y, Du L, Wu G and Cao X: Electro-acupuncture (EA) induced attenuation of immunosuppression appearing after epidural or intrathecal injection of morphine in patients and rats. Acupunct Electrother Res. 21:177–186. 1996.PubMed/NCBI
24	Delogu G, Moretti S, Antonucci A, et al: Apoptosis and surgical trauma: dysregulated expression of death and survival factors on peripheral lymphocytes. Arch Surg. 135:1141–1147. 2000. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
25	Oka M, Hirazawa K, Yamamoto K, et al: Induction of Fas-mediated apoptosis on circulating lymphocytes by surgical stress. Ann Surg. 223:434–440. 1996. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
26	Rogers PA, Schoen AM and Limehouse J: Acupuncture for immune-mediated disorders. Literature review and clinical applications. Probl Vet Med. 4:162–193. 1992.PubMed/NCBI
27	Ding WX and Yin XM: Dissection of the multiple mechanisms of TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis in liver injury. J Cell Mol Med. 8:445–454. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
28	Sandur SK, Ahn KS, Ichikawa H, et al: Zyflamend, a polyherbal preparation, inhibits invasion, suppresses osteoclastogenesis, and potentiates apoptosis through down-regulation of NF-kappa B activation and NF-kappa B-regulated gene products. Nutr Cancer. 57:78–87. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar
29	Batistaki C, Kostopanagiotou G, Myrianthefs P, et al: Effect of exogenous catecholamines on tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and beta-endorphin levels following severe trauma. Vascul Pharmacol. 48:85–91. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI