Effect of acupuncture-moxibustion on bone marrow suppression and leukocytes after chemotherapy

Abstract

【摘要】目的：观察针刺及艾灸疗法对化疗骨髓抑制及白细胞计数的影响, 并探讨其作用机制。方法：采 用动物实验和临床研究相结合的方法, 观察针灸对化疗中骨髓及白细胞的影响, 用生物培养法检测造血 干/祖细胞数量、血清集落刺激因子的活性。结果：与模型组比较, 针刺及艾灸组外周血白细胞提前 1 d开 始回升。针灸促进中性粒细胞分裂增殖最明显。结论：针灸抗化疗骨髓抑制, 提升白细胞计数的效应可能 与促进骨髓细胞向外周血中释放、 延长白细胞寿命, 提高血清集落刺激因子的活性, 促使造血干/祖细胞尽 快增殖, 减轻化疗药物对造血干/祖细胞的损伤等有关。 【关键词】针灸疗法；药物疗法；白细胞减少；环磷酰胺；肿瘤；小鼠 【中图分类号】R2-03 【文献标志码】A 【Abstract】Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture-moxibustion therapy on bone marrow suppression and the leukocytes count after chemotherapy, and to explore the mechanism. Methods: Animal experiments and clinical studies were combined to observe the effect of acupuncture-moxibustion on the bone marrow and leukocytes during chemotherapy. The biological cultivation was used to detect the amount of the hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and the activity of the serum colony-stimulating factor (CSF). Results: The peripheral leukocytes count in the acupuncture-moxibustion group began to rebound 1 d earlier than that in the model group. The effect of acupuncture-moxibustion on neutrophils proliferation was the most obvious. Conclusion: The effect of acupuncture-moxibustion on resisting bone marrow suppression and rebounding the leukocytes count after chemotherapy may related to releasing the bone marrow cells to peripheral blood, extending the life of leukocyte, increasing the activity of serum CSF, promoting the hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell proliferation, and reducing the damage of chemotherapy on the hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell. 【Key Words】 Acupuncture-moxibustion Therapy; Drug Therapy; Leukopenia; Cyclophosphamide; Neoplasms; Mice Chemotherapy is an important means of treating cancer, but the side effect of bone marrow suppression can result in decrease of the peripheral blood leukocytes and insufficiency of the immune function, and this may lead to the failure of chemotherapy. A large number of clinical data confirmed that acupuncture can prevent the side effects of chemotherapy [1,2] , but the mechanism is not clear. Our research team has carried out studies to explore the mechanism, and now it was summarized as follows.An animal model of chemotherapy-induced leukopenia was established and then was treated with acupuncture-moxibustion. The effect of acupuncturemoxibustion on leukocyte count was observed and the relationship between leukocytes increase and bone marrow hematopoietic was studied.

The role of acupoint stimulation as an adjunct therapy for lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Our findings indicated that acupuncture reduces conventional therapy-induced bone marrow suppression, e.g. increase of WBCs, hemoglobin, and platelets, which is in accordance with other findings that acupuncture can improve bone marrow suppression during chemotherapy [ 62 ]. Although the mechanism remains largely unknown, previous studies have provided some possible mechanisms, for examples, acupuncture induces the erythropoietin expression [ 63 ] and bone marrow megakaryocytes [ 62 ].…”

“…increase of WBCs, hemoglobin, and platelets, which is in accordance with other findings that acupuncture can improve bone marrow suppression during chemotherapy [ 62 ]. Although the mechanism remains largely unknown, previous studies have provided some possible mechanisms, for examples, acupuncture induces the erythropoietin expression [ 63 ] and bone marrow megakaryocytes [ 62 ]. Moreover, upregulation of IL-2 by acupuncture promotes the mature of T cells [ 54 ].…”

Therapeutic Effect of Catgut Implantation at Acupoint in a Mouse Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Suppressing Immune Escape

“…Ling et al elaborated the guidelines of using transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for advanced PLC in combination with TCM drugs, moxibustion therapy and acupuncture [ 30 ]. The clinical efficacy of catgut implantation at acupoints (AICC), a subtype of acupuncture, has also been reported in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR), simple obesity, and stroke [ 31 , 32 ]. Liu et al reported that CIAA at Dazhui (GV 14), Guanyuan (CV 4), and Zhongwan (CV 12) notably alleviated the neural impairment symptoms and relieved limb spasticity by elevating GABAB expression and reducing mGluR1 levels in the brain stem of rats after stroke [ 33 ].…”

Zusanli (ST36) Acupoint Injection With Dexamethasone for Chemotherapy-Induced Myelosuppression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Studies have proved that the information of acupuncture can be transmitted to the relevant areas of the cerebral cortex through afferent nerves, and then the cortex can be excited to reach the nerve endings of the viscera and related organs along the efferent nerves, stimulating mast cells to release bioactive substances, so as to improve the excitability of the nerve endings and produce sensitive effects ( 43 ). For the bone marrow system, the sensitive effect produced by acupuncture can improve the hematopoietic function of the bone marrow and promote the significant increase of blood WBC, RBC, and Hb ( 44 , 45 ) (3). Glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone, have a chemotactic effect on various components of blood, which can promote the migration of marginal pool cells to the central pool and redistribute various components of the blood.…”