[Acupuncture for improving neuroinflammation in vascular dementia rats by regulating Th1/Th2 cells balance in peripheral blood].

To observe the effect of acupuncture on the balance of T helper (Th) 1/Th2 cells in peripheral blood, inflammatory reaction and intracerebral neuroinflammation in vascular dementia (VD) rats, and to explore the mechanism of acupuncture for improving cognitive function in VD.A total of 60 SPF Wistar rats were randomized into a normal group (n=12), a sham operation group (n=12) and an operation group (n=36). Bilateral common carotid artery occlusion was adopted to establish the VD model in rats of the operation group. The rats of successful modeling were randomized into a model group and an acupuncture group, 12 rats in each one. In the acupuncture group, Sanjiao acupuncture was applied at "Danzhong" (CV 17), "Zhongwan" (CV 12), "Qihai" (CV 6), "Xuehai" (SP 10) and "Zusanli" (ST 36), the needles were manipulated for 30 s at each acupoint, without retaining. The intervention was given once a day for 15 days, and there was 1-day rest on day 8. Morris water maze test was adopted to observe the ethology, flow cytometry was used to detect the ratio of Th1/Th2 in peripheral blood, and Luminex liquid chip technology was used to detect the levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum and hippocampus.There were no significant differences in various indexes between the normal group and the sham operation group (P>0.05). Compared with the sham operation group, in the model group, the escape latency of hidden platform test and reversal platform test was prolonged (P<0.01), the residence time of the original platform quadrant was shortened and the number of crossing the original platform was reduced in probe test (P<0.01, P<0.05), the proportion of Th1 cells was increased, the proportion of Th2 cells was decreased and the ratio of Th1/Th2 cells was increased in peripheral blood (P<0.01), the levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ were increased, the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were decreased in serum and hippocampus (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, in the acupuncture group, the escape latency of hidden platform test and reversal platform test was shortened (P<0.01), the residence time of the original platform quadrant of the probe test was prolonged (P<0.05), the proportion of Th1 cells was decreased, the proportion of Th2 cells was increased and the ratio of Th1 / Th2 cells was decreased in peripheral blood (P<0.05), the levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ were decreased, the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were increased in serum and hippocampus (P<0.05, P<0.01).Acupuncture can improve the cognitive dysfunction and reduce the intracerebral neuroinflammation in VD rats, its mechanism may relate to the regulation of Th1/Th2 cells balance and reduce the inflammatory reaction in peripheral blood.目的：观察针刺对血管性痴呆（VD）大鼠外周血辅助型T（Th）1/Th2细胞平衡、炎性反应及脑内神经炎性反应的影响，探讨针刺改善VD认知功能的机制。方法：将60只SPF级Wistar大鼠随机分为正常组（12只）、假手术组（12只）和手术组（36只）。手术组采用双侧颈总动脉结扎术制备VD大鼠模型，再将造模成功的大鼠随机分为模型组和针刺组，每组12只。针刺组予“三焦针法”进行针刺干预，穴取“膻中”“中脘”“气海”“血海”“足三里”，每穴行针30 s，不留针，每日1次，共15 d，第8天休息1次。采用Morris水迷宫进行行为学检测；流式细胞术检测外周血Th1/Th2细胞比值；Luminex液相芯片检测血清及海马白介素（IL）-4、IL-10、干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）水平。结果：正常组与假手术组各项指标比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。与假手术组比较，模型组大鼠隐蔽平台实验及反向平台实验逃避潜伏期延长(P<0.01)；空间探索实验原平台象限停留时间缩短、穿越原平台次数减少（P<0.01，P<0.05）；外周血Th1细胞比例升高、Th2细胞比例下降、Th1/Th2细胞比值增大（P<0.01）；血清及海马TNF-α及IFN-γ水平升高、IL-4及IL-10水平降低（P<0.05，P<0.01）。与模型组比较，针刺组大鼠隐蔽平台实验及反向平台实验逃避潜伏期缩短（P<0.01）；空间探索实验原平台象限停留时间延长（P<0.05）；外周血Th1细胞比例下降、Th2细胞比例升高、Th1/Th2细胞比值减小（P<0.05）；血清及海马IFN-γ及TNF-α水平降低、IL-4及IL-10水平升高（P<0.05，P<0.01）。结论：针刺能改善VD大鼠认知功能障碍，降低脑内神经炎性反应水平，其机制可能与调控外周血Th1/Th2细胞平衡、减轻外周炎性反应有关。.