The purpose of this study is to observe the effect of Aqua-acupuncture utilizing Lycopi Herba Solution(LH-AS) on arthritis. For that purpose, we formed three experimental group, synovial cells of human body , normal BALB/C mice and DBA/1J mice with collagen II-induced arthritis, and measured the treatment effect of LH-AS on each group.
The conclusions are as follows.
1. After the LH-AS treatment on synovial cells, there were no significant change in 1, 10, 50 and 100㎍/㎖ whereas there was significant change in 200 and 400㎍/㎖ in cytotoxicity.
2. IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α gene expression of synovial cells and the secretion amount of IL-6 and IL-1β are significantly inhibited in treatment group with LH-AS.
3. The proliferation of synovial cells was significantly inhibited in treatment group with rIL-6, LH-AS 200 and rIL-6, 100㎍/㎖.
4. After the DBA/1J mice with collagen II-induced arthritis were treated by LH-AS, the incidence of arthritis, hind paw edema, the index of arthritis and DTH were significantly inhibited.
5. After the DBA/1J mice with collagen II-induced arthritis were treated by LH-AS, splenetic weight was significantly increased and the number of leukocyte was significaatly decreased. But there was no significant change in the number of platelet.
6. After the DBA/1J mice with collagen II-induced arthritis were treated by LH-AS, the number of CD4^+, CD8^+ activated cells and the surface-receptor expression were significantly increased whereas the number of CD19^+ activated cells and the surface-receptor expression were decreased.
7. After the DBA/1J mice with collagen II-induced arthritis were treated by LH-AS, total protein, LDH were significantly decreased, but there was no significant change in creatinine.
8. After the normal splenetic cells of BALB/C mice were treated by LH-AS and cultured, it was observed that the adherent cells were morphologically activated and IL-12 and IFN-γ gene expression were increased.
9. After the normal splenetic cells of BALB/C mice were treated by LH-AS and cultured, the number of CD4^+, CD8^+, CD19^+ activated cells and surface-receptor expression were inhibited when being compared with the control group.
Taking all these observations into account, LH-AS injection is considered to be effective in treating arthritis and put to practical use in future arthritis clinic.
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