Effect of Acupuncture on Salivary Immunoglobulin a after a Bout of Intense Exercise

Can peri-surgical electroacupuncture relieve immunity suppression? A pilot study in dogs

General anesthesia and surgical stress can suppress the immunological response by acting both directly on the immune system and indirectly on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. Disturbance of the immune system during the perioperative period can lead to complications such as wound-healing disorders and infections up to sepsis. Effectiveness of acupuncture in regulating the immune function by increasing leukocyte numbers and inhibiting inflammatory response has been proven. This study aimed to explore the impact of electroacupuncture (EAP) on the dynamic balance of the immune system and immune cell populations in dogs undergoing surgery. Twelve healthy bitches scheduled for elective ovariectomy were divided into two groups according to whether (EAP, n=6) or not (CTR, n=6) a peri-operative electroacupuncture treatment was performed. Levels of leukocytes (neutrophils, monocytes, T- and B-cells) and immunoglobulins M (IgM) and A (IgA) were measured in blood samples collected before (T0), 1 h (T1) and 2.5 h (T2) after anesthesia induction. Leukocytes count decreased from T0 to T1 in both groups and restored within 1.5 h in EAP group whereas remained significantly lower in CTR group (P<0.02). In particular, neutrophils and monocytes increased in dogs receiving EAP (P<0.01) while T-cells decreased in CTR group (P<0.04) at T2. B-cells and cytotoxic T-cells decreased in EAP dogs (P<0.04) at T2. No differences in helper T-cells, IgM and IgA levels were recorded between groups and over time. Our results suggest a modulatory effect of EAP on the immune system which is early expressed on neutrophils, monocytes and T-cells.

Effects of different exercise intensities or durations on salivary IgA secretion

PURPOSE

This study aimed to examine changes in salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) secretion at different intensities or durations of acute exercise.

METHODS

Twelve healthy untrained young males were included in randomized crossover trials in Experiment 1 (cycling exercise for 30 min at a work rate equivalent to 35%, 55%, and 75% maximal oxygen uptake [ V ˙ O2max]) and Experiment 2 (cycling exercise at 55% V ˙ O2max intensity for 30, 60, and 90 min). Saliva samples were collected at baseline, immediately after, and 60 min after each exercise.

RESULTS

Experiment 1: The percentage change in the s-IgA secretion rate in the 75% V ˙ O2max trial was significantly lower than that in the 55% V ˙ O2max trial immediately after exercise (- 45.7%). The percentage change in the salivary concentration of cortisol, an s-IgA regulating factor, immediately after exercise significantly increased compared to that at baseline in the 75% V ˙ O2max trial (+ 107.6%). A significant negative correlation was observed between the percentage changes in saliva flow rate and salivary cortisol concentration (r = - 0.52, P < 0.01). Experiment 2: The percentage change in the s-IgA secretion rate in the 90-min trial was significantly lower than that in the 30-min trial immediately after exercise (-37.0%). However, the percentage change in salivary cortisol concentration remained the same.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that a reduction in s-IgA secretion is induced by exercise intensity of greater than or equal to 75% V ˙ O2max for 30 min or exercise duration of greater than or equal to 90 min at 55% V ˙ O2max in healthy untrained young men.

A pilot study: the relationship between salivary MCP-1 and IgA, and exercise performance in long-distance runners and sprinters

Objective

It remains unclear that the relationship between sprint and/or endurance performance and salivary immunological factors and stress hormones in athletes. The aim of this study was to investigate if salivary immunological factors and stress hormones are related to sprint and endurance performance in sprinters and long-distance runners. Fourteen male sprinters provided 100-m record and 22 male long-distance runners provided 5000-m record. Salivary IgA, MCP-1, interleukin-8, and cortisol levels in sprinters and long-distance runners were measured by ELISA assay.

Results

No significant differences were found in all salivary parameters between sprinters and long-distance runners. In long-distance runners, the salivary IgA and MCP-1 concentrations and secretory rate significantly correlated with their personal best 5000-m times (r = 0.534, P = 0.011; r = 0.567, P = 0.006; r = 0.452, P = 0.035, respectively). In sprinters, the salivary IgA concentration, MCP-1 concentration, and MCP-1 secretory rate did not correlate with personal best 100-m sprint times (r = − 0.260, P = 0.369; r = 0.128, P = 0.663; r = 0.122, P = 0.677, respectively). Therefore, the present study is the first to determine that immunological factors such as IgA and MCP1 may be related to endurance performance in long-distance runners.

The use and protective effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation during abdominal surgery: study protocol for a multicenter randomized parallel controlled trial

Background

Acupuncture-balanced anesthesia has been found to offer protective benefits. Electrical stimulation at certain acupoints can potentially promote perioperative gastrointestinal function recovery. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of acupuncture-balanced anesthesia on the postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal function, on anesthesia strategies for abdominal surgery, on postoperative pain treatment, and on any associated complications or alterations in immune function. We further seek to verify the protective effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS), to explore possible underlying neuroimmune–endocrine mechanisms, and to thereby develop an optimized acupuncture-balanced anesthesia strategy suitable for abdominal surgery. Together, these findings will provide a scientific basis for the clinical utilization of acupuncture-balanced anesthesia in the context of abdominal surgery.

Methods/design

This study is a multicenter, large-sample, randomized placebo-controlled trial. All subjects will be patients undergoing elective gastric or colorectal surgery. In Part 1, these patients will be stratified according to surgical site (gastric or colorectal), and randomly divided into four groups based on different perioperative interventions: Con group, which will undergo sham TEAS before, during, and after surgery; T1 group, which will receive TEAS during the preoperative and intraoperative periods, and sham TEAS during the postoperative period; T2 group, which will receive TEAS during the preoperative period, sham TEAS during the intraoperative period, and TEAS during the postoperative period; and T3 group, which will receive TEAS before, during, and after operation. Part 2 of this study will focus solely on colorectal surgery patients. All patients will receive TEAS during the preoperative and intraoperative periods, and they will be randomized into four groups according to different postoperative treatments: Con′ group, which will not receive TEAS; T1′ group, which will receive sham TEAS; T2′ group, which will receive 5-Hz TEAS; and T3′ group, which will receive 100-Hz TEAS. Venous blood (5 ml) will be used to measure immunological and inflammatory indexes both at the preoperative stage prior to TEAS and 4–5 days after operation. The primary outcome will be the time to first bowel sounds after surgery. Secondary outcomes will include gastrointestinal functional recovery, analgesic efficacy during the postoperative period, acupuncture-balanced anesthesia efficacy, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and postoperative complications.

Discussion

This study is designed to investigate the clinical value of TEAS during various perioperative periods in those undergoing abdominal surgery, with the overall goal of evaluating the clinical value and advantages of acupuncture-balanced anesthesia, and of providing new strategies for improving patient prognoses.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-TRC-14004435. Registered on 26 March 2014.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-019-3558-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effect of 100 Hz electroacupuncture on salivary immunoglobulin A and the autonomic nervous system

BACKGROUND

A previous study has reported that low-frequency (LF) electroacupuncture (EA) influences salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS is known to control the secretion volume of sIgA; however, the effect of high-frequency (HF) EA on salivary sIgA has not been determined. We investigated whether HF EA affects salivary sIgA levels and the ANS.

METHOD

Sixteen healthy subjects were randomly classified into two groups: a control group and an EA group. After a 5 min rest, subjects in the EA group received EA at 100 Hz bilaterally at LI4 and LI11 for 15 min before resting for a further 40 min post-stimulation. Subjects in the control group rested for a total of 60 min. Measurements of the ANS and sIgA levels in both groups were made before, immediately after, 20 min after, and 40 min after rest or 15 min EA treatment. HF and LF components of heart rate variability were analysed as markers of ANS function. LF/HF ratio and HF were taken as indices of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve activity, respectively. Salivary protein concentrations and sIgA levels were determined by Bradford protein assay and ELISA, respectively.

RESULTS

LF/HF ratio was significantly increased immediately after EA. HF was significantly increased at 20 min after EA and sIgA level was significantly increased at 40 min after EA. In addition, HF and salivary sIgA level were positively correlated with each another.

CONCLUSIONS

HF EA exerted sequential positive effects on sympathetic nerve activity, parasympathetic nerve activity, and salivary sIgA level (immediately and after 20 and 40 min, respectively). HF EA may increase salivary sIgA levels by influencing parasympathetic nerve activity.

Acupuncture modulates the neuro-endocrine-immune network

As a nonspecific physical stimulation, the effect of acupuncture on diseases is produced by motivating the inherent regulatory system in the body, having the characteristics of whole regulation, dual directional regulation, etc. Modern scientific researches show that body's inherent regulatory system is neuro-endocrine-immune (NEI) network. Hence, we speculate that the regulatory effect of acupuncture may be produced through its regulation of NEI network. In this article, we reviewed the recent researches about acupuncture's effect on the NEI network, to find out the evidence of acupuncture adjusting NEI network and provide some evidences for revealing the mechanism of acupuncture.

Antarctic Harsh Environment as Natural Stress Model: Impact on Salivary Immunoglobulins, Transforming Growth Factor-β and Cortisol Level

The Antarctic continent on the planet Earth is full of environmental extremes. It is considered as natural stress model. Therefore, the present study examined the effect of harsh environment on the certain salivary markers of 28th Indian Antarctic expeditioners. Thirty healthy men and women (median age 36 year; range 22-61 year) participated in this study. Parameters measured were salivary IgA (SIgA), IgM (SIgM), TGF-β and cortisol level at three different time points: (I) before leaving India on 26th October 2008 for base line level; (II) after 1 month on-board journey on 31st January 2009 in Southern Ocean and (III) after 1 month staying at Maitri, Antarctica on 3rd March 2009. Our observation indicated that Ship borne journey and Antarctic environment increased the SIgA levels while that of SIgM level was not altered on-board but decreased by staying for 1 month at Antarctica. No significant alteration was found in the TGF-β and cortisol level at any point of time. The present study concluded that ship borne journey and Antarctic environment may induce the SIgA level while SIgM level decreased in environmental extremes of Antarctica.