Acupuncture for Reduction of Inflammation

Acupuncture has traditionally been used in Asia and is increasingly popular in Western countries to treat a variety of conditions (1). In recent years, acupuncture is widely used to assist in improving pain and inflammatory diseases (2). However, the mechanisms associated with these treatments that influence the immune system are not yet understood.

Cytokines like interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are proposed to be proximal mediators in the early stages of inflammation. They modulate many of the early inflammatory response that is induced by tissue injury, infection, or an immune stimulus (3, 4). Although the response is a critical first line of defense against pathogens, when the inflammatory reaction is uncontrolled, it can cause more damage to the host than the initial stimulus. TNF-α is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is very effective in local and systemic inflammations (5). In addition, TNF-α increases the production of other inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, and interleukin-18 (IL-18) during the inflammatory process. Therefore, it initially brings infections under control, produces coagulation in the damaged tissue, and stimulates tissue improvement. An excessive increase of TNF-α level causes an extreme immune reaction and contributes to the development of atherosclerosis, shock, endotoxemia, and chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and inflammatory bowel disease (5-7). Yim and colleagues reported a decrease in increased serum TNF-α, IL-6, and interferon gamma levels by arthritis as a result of electroacupuncture treatment (9). In a rat model for ulcerative colitis, acupuncture inhibited the expression of IL-1β and IL-6 (10). It has been reported that acupuncture significantly reduces complete Freund's adjuvant-induced hind paw edema and mouse air pouch inflammation (11, 12). Acupuncture could also improve immune dysfunction after surgical stress both in human and animals (13, 14).

Some cytokines are pro-inflammatory, but others are anti-inflammatory (3). The anti-inflammatory interleukins comprise interleukine-4 (IL-4) and interleukine-10 (IL-10) and these are considered as mediating the down-regulation of immune-inflammatory conditions. Acupuncture for treatment of the ulcerative colitis rats is possibly related with the decrease of IL-1β, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, and the increase of IL-4, an anti-inflammatory cytokine (15).

Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that the protective action of acupuncture is exerted by the modulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The restoration of balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines by acupuncture gives into the mechanisms underlying the immune-modulation effect of acupuncture.

Inflammation is associated with pain hypersensitivity that is produced by the release of inflammatory mediators. The pro-inflammatory cytokines play an essential role in pain sensitization (16). The peripheral effects of these cytokines on sensitizing nociceptors have been well documented (16). Post-operative surgical pain can cause significant physiologic and psychologic distress for patients. An increase in pain duration and intensity after surgery can contribute to a variety of complications, including delayed ambulation, pulmonary and thromboembolic complications, increased length of hospital stay, and generalized distress and anxiety. Effective post-surgical pain relief requires a multidisciplinary effort and influences patients' satisfaction with care and successful outcomes (17). Acupuncture has been used for a long time for the reduction of pain. In light of these factors, the use of acupuncture that may allow a reduction in the dosage of conventional analgesics is highly valuable because it can lower the incidence of possible adverse effects. Several trials have demonstrated that patients receiving acupuncture prior to surgery have a lower level of pain, reduced opioid requirement, a lower incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting, and lower sympatho-adrenal responses (18). The local release of β-endorphin could be responsible for the analgesic effect. β-endorphin may be interacting with cytokines to reduce pain and acupuncture may amplify the interaction between β-endorphin and cytokines.

The investigators will ask patients undergoing thyroid and parathyroid surgery to determine how acupuncture restores a balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines to reduce pain and inflammation before, during, and after surgery. The effect of acupuncture on post-surgical pain will be evaluated.

Protocol A prospective randomized, double-blinded (patient and data collector), study of 30 patients undergoing thyroid or parathyroid surgery under general anesthesia, will be conducted to compare the effects of acupuncture on the levels of circulating cytokines between acupuncture group and control group. The control group is to receive the same anesthetic and surgical techniques without the acupuncture.

The principal investigator will use the Large intestine 4 (LI-4), the Large intestine 11 (LI-11), and the Stomach 36 (ST-36) acupuncture points (acupoints). LI-4 and LI-11 acupoints lie on the Large intestine meridian (pathway). The Large intestine meridian runs through the frontal neck region including the thyroid. LI-4 point is located in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side and LI-11 point is located at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease. Acupuncture on these two acupoints showed increased immune-modulatory effects including cytotoxicity of leukocytes (19, 20). ST-36 point is located on the outside of the anterior crest of the tibia and just below the knee. This point is the most commonly used to reduce general body pain (21). The acupuncture procedures will be performed by an anesthesiologist licensed to do so.

After cleaning the skin with alcohol swabs, an acupuncture needle (30 Gauge, 0.30X30 millimeter, Mac Spring Handle Needle, Korea) will be swiftly inserted approximately 5-10 mm deep bilaterally at both LI-4 and LI-11 acupoints of each arm and at ST-36 acupoint of each leg. Electroacupuncture (EA) will be delivered by a stimulator (Digital Electronic Acupunctoscope 4-C, Model AWQ-104L™ Hong Kong, Dist by Lhasa Medical, Weymouth, MA) via electrodes from the stimulator at 10 Hz frequency with the electrical current of continuous wave. This setting showed significant anti-hyperalgesic effects in a rat inflammation model (22, 23) and also inhibited the up-regulation of IL-1β and its messenger Ribonucleic acid (mRNA) compared to the sham control in a rat model of bone cancer pain (24). EA is a particularly therapeutic method in which a small electrical charge is applied to acupuncture needles inserted at the acupoints. EA has the advantage of combining the stimulation of both needles and electricity compared to manual acupuncture alone, and may potentiate the effect of the acupuncture treatment along the meridians. One end of electrode will be attached to the acupuncture needle handle at LI-4 acupoint, and another end will be attached to the acupuncture needle handle at LI-11acupoint bilaterally. For EA on ST-36, one end of electrode will be attached at the right side ST-36 acupoint and another end will be attached at the left side ST-36 acupoint. A symmetrical biphasic wave will be delivered to the electrodes so that the electrode will be alternately positive and negative and the bilateral LI-4, LI-11, and ST-36 acupoints will be stimulated alternately. Mild muscle twitching will be observed.

The investigator will stimulate the acupoints as follows:

1. EA will be performed for 30 min (a time that is similar to that used in clinical practice).

2. EA will stop after 30 min of the treatment, but leave the needles on the acupoints.

3. Subsequently, EA will be re-initiated for an additional 30 min.

This advanced EA technique showed more increased nitric oxide production in the second interval of EA than that of the first interval, and reduced blood pressure at the end of the second interval in our preliminarily study (25). In addition, this technique increased transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 receptor immunoreactivity in the acupoints compared to that of non-acupoints (26). The advanced EA treatment will be started just before the beginning of surgery.

At the conclusion of the surgical procedure, the acupuncture needles will be removed. The subjects will be awakened and after meeting the criteria for extubation will be transferred to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).

Blood Samples A second intravenous line will be placed in the other arm after the induction of anesthesia and prior to surgical incision to collect blood samples. 15 ml of blood will be collected at three time points: (1) preinduction, (2) just after the advanced EA treatment (3) after arrival in PACU and prior to additional medication administration (approximately 120 minutes post preinduction sample). These specimens will be placed into vacutainer tubes with no anti-coagulant. Blood will be drawn with a syringe attached directly to the angiocatheter which has been placed intravenously. To prevent hemolysis, blood will be transferred without a needle, to a vacutainer whose top has been removed. The vacutainer top will be replaced and specimens labeled with study name, subject's study ID number, sample number, and dated. Bloods from the first two time points will be kept refrigerated until the final sample is obtained postoperatively. Blood samples will be transported to the Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine/School of Health Related Professions Interprofessional Health Research Laboratory within the Department of Clinical Lab Sciences (G level, Bergen Building, 65 Bergen St., Newark). They will be centrifuged, serum removed, aliquoted, and stored at -80C until analysis.

Laboratory Analysis Samples will be analyzed for levels of cortisol, C-reactive proteins, and cytokines interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α, by appropriate methods, including ELISA or multiplex fluorescent bead technology. All samples will be run in duplicate on with plates and reagents of the same lot. In addition we will test Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), glucose and insulin to evaluate the response of the stress. Any samples varying greater than 15% between duplicates will be repeated.