Electroacupuncture inhibits IL-17/IL-17R and post-receptor MAPK signaling pathways in a rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE: Interleukin (IL)-17, as a T-helper 17 cell (Th17) cytokine, plays a key role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathophysiology including chronic inflammation and airway obstruction, which lead to decreased pulmonary function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acupuncture on IL-17, its receptor (IL-17R) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, in a rat model of COPD. METHODS: The COPD model was induced in Sprague Dawley rats by exposure to cigarette smoke for 12 weeks. The model rats were treated with electroacupuncture (EA) at BL13 and ST36. The lung function and histology of the rats were observed. IL-17, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-10 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and in plasma. The leukocytes and macrophages in the BALF were counted. The expression levels of IL-17R were assayed in lung tissue by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. MAPK signaling pathway molecules including c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and p38, and their phosphorylated forms, were observed in the lung by western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the control group rats, lung function decreased and there was a severe inflammatory infiltration of the pulmonary parenchyma in the COPD rats. EA effectively improved lung function and alleviated the inflammatory infiltration in the lungs of COPD rats. EA also reversed the elevated total leukocyte and macrophage counts, the high levels of IL-17 and TNF-α, and the low IL-10 content in COPD rats. Meanwhile, EA downregulated the increased mRNA and protein expression of IL-17R, and significantly inhibited the elevated levels of phosphorylated JNK, ERK1/2, and p38 in the lungs of COPD rats. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the protective effects of acupuncture therapy on the lungs of COPD rats are likely related to inhibition of IL-17/IL-17R and the post-receptor MAPK signaling pathways.

Partial reversibility of hypothalamic dysfunction and changes in brain activity after body mass reduction in obese subjects.

OBJECTIVE: Inflammation and dysfunction of the hypothalamus are common features of experimental obesity. However, it is unknown whether obesity and massive loss of body mass can modify the immunologic status or the functional activity of the human brain. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of body mass reduction on brain functionality. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In humans, changes in hypothalamic activity after a meal or glucose intake can be detected by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Distinct fMRI analytic methods have been developed to explore changes in the brain's activity in several physiologic and pathologic conditions. We used two analytic methods of fMRI to explore the changes in the brain activity after body mass reduction. RESULTS: Obese patients present distinct functional activity patterns in selected brain regions compared with lean subjects. On massive loss of body mass, after bariatric surgery, increases in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-6 are accompanied by changes in fMRI patterns, particularly in the hypothalamus. CONCLUSIONS: Massive reduction of body mass promotes a partial reversal of hypothalamic dysfunction and increases anti-inflammatory activity in the CSF.