Fire-needle Acupuncture Intervention Relieves Ankle-joint Inflammatory Reactions Possibly by Down-regulating Serum TNF-α and Anti-cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody Levels in Collagen-induced Arthritis Rats

Abstract

To observe the effect of fire-needle acupuncture of "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Kunlun" (BL 60) on ankle-joint swelling and serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) contents in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats, so as to study its mechanism underlying improvement of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)．. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomized into control, model, medication (Methotrexate) and fire-needling groups (n＝8 in each). The RA model was established by injecting type Ⅱ chicken collagen (0.1 mol/L) plus Freund's complete adjuvant (primary immunization) and Freund's incomplete adjuvant (immunization once more) into the subcutaneous tissues of the right foot bottom, back and tail root of rats. Fire-needling was applied to the left and right "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Kunlun" (BL 60) alternatively for 3 times in each acupoint, once daily for 10 days. For rats of the medication group, Methotrexate sodium chloride solution (0.1 mg/100 g) was administrated by gavage, once every 5 days, twice together. The rats' right hind ankle diameter was measured before and after the treatment. The X-ray film of the right ankle was taken, and the contents of serum TNF-α and ACPA were assayed by ELISA. The ankle diameter and serum concentrations of TNF-α and ACPA were significantly increased in the model group compared to the control group (P<0.05), and X-ray film showed swollen and deformed tarsus joints, and narrowing of the joint space. After the intervention, the ankle diameter, serum TNF-α and ACPA levels were considerably decreased in both medication and fire-needle groups compared with the model group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the joint swelling and bone deformity became relatively milder. There were no significant differences between the medication and fire-needling groups in the ankle diameter and the contents of serum TNF-α and ACPA (P>0.05). Fire-needling stimulation of ST 36 and BL 60, similar to Methotrexate, can relieve the inflammatory reactions of hind-ankle joint in CIA rats, which may be related to its effect in down-regulating ACPA and TNF-α levels.