Effect of Electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) on Sepsis Induced by Cecal Ligation Puncture and Its Relevance to Spleen.

Dong-Ping Xie,Fang Lai,Jiong-Dong Du,Xiao-Lian Qin,Shu-Tao Mai,Yan-Na Weng,Geng-Biao Zhou,Yun Han,Rui-Lan Chen,Yan Zhang,Carmen Mannucci

doi:10.1155/2020/1914031

Abstract

Background Acupuncture at Zusanli (ST36), Quchi (LI11), and Tianshu (ST25) is commonly used in septic patients by traditional Chinese physicians. The protective effect of acupuncture at ST36 on the intestinal barrier is associated with Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Pathway (CAIP). However, its detailed mechanism and whether acupuncture at LI11 and ST25 have similar effects to ST36 remain unclear. Aim To explore the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at ST36, LI11, and ST25 on septic rats and investigate the role of the spleen in the treatment of EA at ST36. Methods A septic rat model caused by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and a postsplenectomy (SPX) CLP rat model were established. Rats were divided into nine groups depending on different treatments. Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-10, D-lactic acidosis (D-LA), double amine oxidase (DAO), and T-lymphocyte subgroup level in intestinal lymph nodes were compared. Results EA could not improve the 2-day survival of CLP rats. For CLP rats, EA at ST36 and LI11 significantly decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-10, DAO, and D-LA in serum and normalized intestinal T-cell immunity. For SPX CLP rats, EA at ST36 failed to reduce serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-10, and D-LA but increased the values of CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+ cells and Treg/Th17 cells. Conclusions EA at ST36 and LI11, respectively, could alleviate inflammation reaction, protect the intestinal barrier, and maintain intestinal T-cell function in septic rats. Spleen participated in the protective effect of EA at ST36 in sepsis.

Highlights

Around the world, sepsis has high incidence, which is even higher in intensive care units, and high mortality, leading to the heavy financial burden [1, 2]
D-lactic acidosis (D-LA) and double amine oxidase (DAO) are valid indicators for intestinal permeability. ey are scarcely detected in blood circulation normally but increase sharply in serum when the intestinal barrier is damaged in sepsis [5, 6]
Given the special role of the spleen in Cholinergic AntiInflammatory Pathway (CAIP), we aimed to clarify whether it took part in the protective effect of EA at ST36 on sepsis with a postsplenectomy (SPX) septic rat model induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)

Summary

Introduction

Sepsis has high incidence (about 31.5 million per year), which is even higher in intensive care units, and high mortality (more than 5.3 million people per year), leading to the heavy financial burden (more than 14.6 billion dollars per year) [1, 2]. It is well known that intestinal barrier dysfunction is a result and a cause of sepsis development. Ey are scarcely detected in blood circulation normally but increase sharply in serum when the intestinal barrier is damaged in sepsis [5, 6]. E protective effect of acupuncture at ST36 on the intestinal barrier is associated with Cholinergic AntiInflammatory Pathway (CAIP). Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-10, D-lactic acidosis (D-LA), double amine oxidase (DAO), and T-lymphocyte subgroup level in intestinal lymph nodes were compared. For CLP rats, EA at ST36 and LI11 significantly decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-10, DAO, and D-LA in serum and normalized intestinal T-cell immunity. EA at ST36 and LI11, respectively, could alleviate inflammation reaction, protect the intestinal barrier, and maintain intestinal T-cell function in septic rats. Spleen participated in the protective effect of EA at ST36 in sepsis

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Conclusion