Electroacupuncture promotes a decrease in inflammatory response associated with Th1/Th2 cytokines, nitric oxide and leukotriene B4 modulation in experimental asthma

Previously, we have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) in rats decreased eosinophil infiltration into the pulmonary tissue (PT) and in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in an experimental model of asthma. Th2 cytokines, leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and nitric oxide (NO) are involved in the asthma inflammatory process. The aim of this study was to verify the effects of EA on these asthma mediators. Male Wistar rats were divided into control (C), immobilized (I), sham acupuncture (SA), and acupuncture (A) groups. All rats were sensitized, and EA treatment using clinical acupuncture points was started 24 h after antigen priming. EA was done every other day for 2 weeks. Subsequently, animals were challenged by inhalation and sacrificed 24 h later. At this time, the BAL and lungs were collected and used to analyze cytokine production, LTB4 and NO. The EA increased IL-1 and IFN-γ and decreased IL-4, IL-10, NO and LTB4 in the BAL and PT compared to the C and SA groups. The presence of eosinophils in the BAL negatively correlated with IL-1 and IFN-γ production and positively correlated with IL-4 and IL-10 production. Our results show that the beneficial anti-inflammatory action of EA on asthma is related to the balance of the Thl/Th2 response and the reduction of LTB4 and NO. These results suggest that EA therapy could be an important complementary treatment for asthma.