Abstract

Clinical evidence indicates that electroacupuncture (EA) is effective for allergic disorder. Recent animal studies have shown that EA treatment reduces levels of IgE and Th2 cytokines in BALB/c mice immunized with 2,4-dinitrophenylated keyhole limpet protein (DNP-KLH). The hypothalamus, a brain center of the neural-immune system, is known to be activated by EA stimulation. This study was performed to identify and characterize the differentially expressed genes in the hypothalamus of DNP-KLH immunized mice that were stimulated with EA or only restrained. To this aim, we conducted a microarray analysis to evaluate the global gene expression profiles, using the hypothalamic RNA samples taken from three groups of mice: (i) normal control group (no treatments); (ii) IMH group (DNP-KLH immunization + restraint); and (iii) IMEA group (immunization + EA stimulation). The microarray analysis revealed that total 39 genes were altered in their expression levels by EA treatment. Ten genes, including T-cell receptor alpha variable region family 13 subfamily 1 (Tcra-V13.1), heat shock protein 1B (Hspa1b) and 2′-5′ oligoadenylate synthetase 1F (Oas1f), were up-regulated in the IMEA group when compared with the IMH group. In contrast, 29 genes, including decay accelerating factor 2 (Daf2), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, quinone 1 (Nqo1) and programmed cell death 1 ligand 2 (Pdcd1lg2) were down-regulated in the IMEA group as compared with the IMH group. These results suggest that EA treatment can modulate immune response in DNP-KLH immunized mice by regulating expression levels of genes that are associated with innate immune, cellular defense and/or other kinds of immune system in the hypothalamus. © 2011 Sun Kwang Kim et al.

Indexed keywords

EMTREE drug terms: 2',5' oligoadenylate synthetase; 2,4 dinitrophenylated keyhole limpet protein; decay accelerating factor; heat shock protein; heat shock protein 1B; immunomodulating agent; programmed death 1 ligand 2; quinone derivative; reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate dehydrogenase; T lymphocyte receptor alpha chain; unclassified drug

EMTREE medical terms: animal experiment; article; controlled study; down regulation; electroacupuncture; female; gene; gene expression profiling; genetic transcription; hypothalamus; immunization; immunomodulation; innate immunity; microarray analysis; mouse; nonhuman; priority journal; upregulation

Chemicals and CAS Registry Numbers: 2',5' oligoadenylate synthetase, 69106-44-1; decay accelerating factor, 99085-47-9; reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate dehydrogenase, 9001-68-7

Manufacturers:Drug manufacturer: Calbiochem, United States.