The alpha-adrenoceptor mediation of the immunomodulatory effects of electroacupuncture in DNP-KLH immunized mice

Neurosci Lett. 2007 Aug 16;423(2):149-52. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2007.07.002. Epub 2007 Jul 31.

Abstract

Our previous study demonstrated that successive electroacupuncture (EA) at ST36 acupoint reduces IgE production in BALB/c mice immunized with 2,4-dinitrophenylated keyhole limpet protein (DNP-KLH) by suppression of the Th2 cell lineage development. Here, we report that pretreatment of phentolamine (alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, 10mg/kg, i.p.) completely blocks the EA-induced suppression of antigen-specific and total IgE levels in serum and IL-4 production in anti-CD3 mAb-activated splenocytes in DNP-KLH immunized mice. The results suggest that alpha-adrenoceptor play an important role in mediating the suppressive effects of EA on IgE production and Th2 cell response in DNP-KLH immunized mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Electroacupuncture*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Hemocyanins / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin E / biosynthesis*
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-4 / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Phentolamine / pharmacology
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / drug effects
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*

Substances

  • Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha
  • Interleukin-4
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Hemocyanins
  • keyhole-limpet hemocyanin
  • Phentolamine