41. Anti-inflammatory effects of apipuncture on systemic and localized inflammogens

Abstract

Acupuncture and physical therapies involve musculocutaneous stimulation which can produce analgesia and reduce inflammation. Likewise, counter-irritation inhibits LPS-induced TNF-alpha via the sympathetics. We examined the effects of injecting bee venom into acupuncture sites (apipuncture) on systemic and localized inflammatory responses. Bee venom (1, 10, or 100 μg/50 μl) was injected bilaterally into ST36 acupoints (inferiolateral to knee) and 30 min later injected i.v. with 10 μg LPS and 90 min later plasma levels of TNF and corticosterone assayed. The 10 μg dose decreased LPS-induced plasma and splenic TNF and plasma corticosterone. We next examined the localized anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperalgesic effects of apipuncture and showed that s.c. injections into the hindpaw of peptidoglycan (PEG) produced an increase in hyperalgesia, primarily to heat, and localized edema (inflammation). Bee venom was injected into the left ST36 site 30 min prior to injecting PEG into the left hindpaw and hyperalgesia and edema measured at 1 and 2 h post-injection. Apipuncture blocked the hyperalgesic effects of PEG, reduced the paw edema, and reduced plasma corticosterone levels. Additional studies showed the effects of apipuncture were acupoint site specific in that bee venom injections into the contralateral limb or the back had no effect on the localized inflammatory response. Thus, apipuncture produces a decrease in both systemic and localized inflammatory immune responses. Sponsored by NIH Grant # MH 43778 .