The immunomodulatory mechanisms for acupuncture practice

The system physiology approaches that emerge in western countries in recent years echo the holistic view of ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practices that deal with the root, rather than only the symptoms of diseases. Particularly, TCM practices, including acupuncture, emphasize the mobilization of self-healing mechanisms to bring back body homeostasis. Acupuncture has been practiced for over two thousand years to modulate body physiology via stimulation at specific body regions (acupoints). With the development of various research on acupuncture therapy, its regulatory effect on the immune system has been gradually recognized, especially on immunological diseases, including infectious and allergic diseases. In this study, we reviewed the immunomodulatory mechanism of acupuncture and systematically integrates existing research to respectively elucidate the modulatory mechanisms of acupuncture on the innate immune system, adaptive immune system, and well-known neuroanatomical mechanisms, including intact somatosensory-autonomic reflex pathway. With the advances made in recent systems physiology studies, we now have a great opportunity to gain insight into how acupuncture modulates immunity, and subsequently improves its efficacy

Zinc inhibits TRPV1 to alleviate chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain

Zinc is a transition metal that has a long history of use as an anti-inflammatory agent. It also soothes pain sensations in a number of animal models. However, the effects and mechanisms of zinc on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy remain unknown. Here we show that locally injected zinc markedly reduces neuropathic pain in male and female mice induced by paclitaxel, a chemotherapy drug, in a TRPV1-dependent manner. Extracellularly applied zinc also inhibits the function of TRPV1 expressed in HEK293 cells and mouse DRG neurons, which requires the presence of zinc-permeable TRPA1 to mediate entry of zinc into the cytoplasm. Moreover, TRPA1 is required for zinc-induced inhibition of TRPV1-mediated acute nociception. Unexpectedly, zinc transporters, but not TRPA1, are required for zinc-induced inhibition of TRPV1-dependent chronic neuropathic pain produced by paclitaxel. Together, our study demonstrates a novel mechanism underlying the analgesic effect of zinc on paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain that relies on the function of TRPV1

A TRPV4-dependent neuroimmune axis in the spinal cord promotes neuropathic pain

Microglia, resident macrophages of the CNS, are essential to brain development, homeostasis, and disease. Microglial activation and proliferation are hallmarks of many CNS diseases, including neuropathic pain. However, molecular mechanisms that govern the spinal neuroimmune axis in the setting of neuropathic pain remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that genetic ablation or pharmacological blockade of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4) markedly attenuated neuropathic pain-like behaviors in a mouse model of spared nerve injury. Mechanistically, microglia-expressed TRPV4 mediated microglial activation and proliferation and promoted functional and structural plasticity of excitatory spinal neurons through release of lipocalin-2. Our results suggest that microglial TRPV4 channels reside at the center of the neuroimmune axis in the spinal cord, which transforms peripheral nerve injury into central sensitization and neuropathic pain, thereby identifying TRPV4 as a potential new target for the treatment of chronic pain

Climatic change on the Tibetan Plateau: Potential evapotranspiration trends from 1961-2000

Time series (1961-2000) of Penman-Monteith potential evapotranspiration estimates for 101 stations on the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding areas are analyzed in this paper. For the Tibetan Plateau as a whole potential evapotranspiration (PET) has decreased in all seasons. The average annual evapotranspiration rate decreased by 13.1 mm/decade or 2.0% of the annual total. Superimposed on this general decline are fluctuations ranging from app. 600 to 700 mm with above average rates in the 1970s and 1980s. On a regional basis, spatial trend distributions remain stable throughout the year with similar seasonal variations. Decreasing PET rates are more pronounced in winter and spring (80% of all stations) as compared to summer and autumn (58% of all stations). Maximum negative (positive) annual rates were recorded at two stations in the southern Qaidam Basin with -79.5 mm/decade (84.8 mm/decade) even though in general negative rates tend to be noticeably higher than positive rates. Changes in wind speed and to a lesser degree relative humidity were found to be the most important meteorological variables affecting PET trends on the Tibetan Plateau while changes in sunshine duration played an insignificant role. Stable daytime temperatures on the Tibetan Plateau have limited the importance of temperature trends for changes of PET rates. Negative evapotranspiration trends are therefore thought to be linked to a general decrease in intensity of the regional monsoon circulation rather than to reductions in sunshine duration. Reduced PET rates appear to be in contrast to a predicted increased hydrological cycle under global warming scenarios. © Springer 2006

CLIMATIC CHANGE ON THE TIBETAN PLATEAU: POTENTIAL EVAPOTRANSPIRATION TRENDS FROM 1961–2000

Abstract. Time series (1961–2000) of Penman-Monteith potential evapotranspiration estimates for 101 stations on the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding areas are analyzed in this paper. For the Tibetan Plateau as a whole potential evapotranspiration (PET) has decreased in all seasons. The average annual evapotranspiration rate decreased by 13.1 mm/decade or 2.0 % of the annual total. Superimposed on this general decline are fluctuations ranging from app. 600 to 700 mm with above average rates in the 1970s and 1980s. On a regional basis, spatial trend distributions remain stable throughout the year with similar seasonal variations. Decreasing PET rates are more pronounced in winter and spring (80 % of all stations) as compared to summer and autumn (58 % of all stations). Maximum negative (positive) annual rates were recorded at two stations in the southern Qaidam Basin with −79.5 mm/decade (84.8 mm/decade) even though in general negative rates tend to be noticeably higher than positive rates. Changes in wind speed and to a lesser degree relative humidity were found to be the most important meteorological variables affecting PET trends on the Tibetan Plateau while changes in sunshine duration played an insignificant role. Stable daytime temperatures on the Tibetan Plateau have limited the importance of temperature trends for changes of PET rates. Negative evapotranspiration trends are therefore thought to be linked to a general decrease in intensity of the regional monsoon circulation rather than to reductions in sunshine duration. Reduced PET rates appear to be in contrast to a predicted increased hydrological cycle under global warming scenarios. 1

Risk evaluation of solar greenhouse cucumbers low temperature disaster based on GIS spatial analysis in Tianjin, China

To plan the cucumber cultivation area scientifically, improve the quality of cucumber and avoid meteorological disaster risks, this article evaluates low temperature disaster risk of greenhouse cucumber in Tianjin, China. Solar greenhouses are the main carriers for facility agriculture in North China which usually do not carry heating and supplementary lighting equipments. Consequently, growth and development of crops are still indirectly influenced by the greenhouse outside weather in some extent. In recent years, low temperature disaster of cucumber during overwintering periods happens frequently which brings large influence on cultivation and production of cucumbers in Tianjin. This research takes three types of solar greenhouses with different heat-retaining capacities as the facility carriers to evaluate the low temperature disaster risk of cucumbers grown in different greenhouses. First, study the corresponding relationship between microclimate elements in greenhouse and meteorological elements out of greenhouse based on assurance rate method and conduct the indexes caused cucumber low temperature disaster in different greenhouses at different development stages. Then, construct the risk evaluation model for low temperature disaster based on natural disaster risk evaluation theory. Finally, the low temperature disaster risk zone-division is realized based on GIS spatial analysis function to evaluate cucumber low temperature disaster risk comprehensively. Abbreviations:SG: solar-greenhouse; Cucu: cucumber; LTD: low temperature disaster; RE: risk evaluation; GIS: geographic information system; TJ: Tianji

Inhibition of Spinal Interlukin-33/ST2 Signaling and Downstream ERK and JNK Pathways in Electroacupuncture Analgesia in Formalin Mice.

Although acupuncture is widely used to manage pain, it remains highly controversial, largely due to the lack of a clear mechanism for its benefits. Here, we investigated the role of IL-33, a novel interleukin (IL)-1 family member, and its receptor ST2 in the analgesic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on formalin-induced inflammatory pain. The results showed that 1) EA stimulation of ipsilateral Zusanli (ST 36) and Yanglingquan (GB 34) acupoints for 30 min remarkably suppressed the two phases of formalin-induced spontaneous pain; 2) subcutaneous or intrathecal administration of recombinant IL-33 (rIL-33) significantly inhibited the analgesic effect of EA, whereas the ST2 antibody potentiated EA analgesia in formalin mice; 3) EA treatment decreased the up-regulation of IL-33 and ST2 protein following formalin injection; and 4) the suppression of the formalin-induced expression of spinal phosphorylated ERK and JNK induced by EA treatment was significantly attenuated following subcutaneous rIL-33 delivery, and was further decreased by the ST2 antibody. These data suggest that EA alleviates formalin-induced inflammatory pain, at least partially, by inhibiting of spinal IL-33/ST2 signaling and the downstream ERK and JNK pathways

Expression of spinal MAPKs after electroacupuncture (EA) treatment and/or subcutaneous recombinant IL-33 (rIL-33) administration in formalin rats.

<p>EA was applied to ST 36 and GB 34 for 30 min before the formalin injection. Recombinant IL-33 was given subcutaneously immediately before EA treatment. Representative bands (A) and quantification of p-ERK and ERK (B); p-JNK and JNK(C); and p-p38 MAPK and p38 MAPK (D) is shown. Data are presented as the mean ± S.E.M. (n = 4 for each group). * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01.</p

Expression of spinal MAPKs after electroacupuncture (EA) treatment in formalin rats.

<p>EA was applied to ST 36 and GB 34 for 30 min before the formalin injection. A shows the representative bands; the density of p-ERK and ERK (B); p-JNK and JNK (C); and p-p38 MAPK and p38 MAPK (D) levels were normalized to β-actin levels and expressed as a fold increase. Data are presented as the mean ± S.E.M. (n = 4 for each group). * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01.</p