Effect of acupuncture on regulating IL‐17, TNF‐ɑ and AQPs in Sjögren's syndrome

Abstract

AimThe aim of the study was to observe the effect of acupuncture on regulating interleukin (IL)‐17, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐ɑ, and aquaporins (AQPs) in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) on patients and on non‐obese diabetic (NOD) models.MethodsLevels of anti‐AQP 1, 5, 8, and 9 antibodies, IL‐17, and TNF‐ɑ in the serum of SS patients were compared prior and following 20 acupuncture treatment visits during 8 weeks. While in murine model, five groups were divided to receive interventions for 4 weeks, including control, model, acupuncture, isoflurane, and hydroxychloroquine. The submaxillofacial gland index, histology, immunohistochemistry of AQP1, 5, salivary flow, together with IL‐17, and TNF‐ɑ expression in peripheral blood were compared among the groups.ResultsAcupuncture reduced IL‐17, TNF‐ɑ, and immunoglobin A levels, and numeric analog scale of dryness in 14 patients with SS (p < 0.05). The salivary flow was increased, and the water intake decreased in NOD mice receiving acupuncture treatments. IL‐17 and TNF‐ɑ levels in peripheral serum were down‐regulated (p < 0.05) and AQP1, 5 expression in the submandibular glands up‐regulated in mice.ConclusionThe effect on relieving xerostomia with acupuncture may be achieved by up‐regulating the expression of AQP1. AQP5, down‐regulating levels of IL‐17 and TNF‐ɑ, and a decrease in inflammation of glands.

Artificial intelligence, cell therapies, acupuncture, and tight junctions: Advances in salivary research

“…Third is a review of tight junctions in the regulation of salivary gland secretion by Cong and colleagues from Peking University (Cong et al., 2023). Fourth is an original paper on the use of acupuncture to treat Sjögren's syndrome patients and nonobese diabetic mice with Sjögren's‐like disease by Liu and colleagues from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (Liu et al., 2023).…”

“…Clinical studies testing acupuncture as a therapy for Sjögren's syndrome are still being standardized for their reporting on primary and long‐term outcomes (Liu et al., 2021). Liu and colleagues, an experienced group of acupuncturists from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in Beijing, report promising results from a clinical study assessing the role of acupuncture on patients with Sjögren's syndrome as well as on nonobese diabetic mice in regulating cytokines and the expression of aquaporins (Liu et al., 2023).…”