Objective: To observe the effect of acupoint application of herbal paste on symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR), serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) level, and number of nasal eosinophils (EOS) in rats with AR, so as to explore its underlying mechanisms.
Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control, model, medication and acupoint application groups (n＝10 rats per group). The AR model was established by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of mixture solution of ovalbumin, aluminum hydroxide and normal saline (once every other day, for 7 times), and nasal drip plus spray inhalation of ovalbumin (on the following day of i．p., once daily for 9 days). For acupoint application, the prepared herbal paste (containing White Mustard Seed, Rhizoma Corydalis, unprocessed Radix Kansui, Herba Asari and ginger juice) was applied to bilateral "Feishu" (BL13), "Pishu" (BL20) and "Shenshu" (BL23) for 2 h, once every other day for 7 times. The rats in the medication group were given Fluticasone Propionate nasal spray daily for 14 days. Scores of nasal itching, sneezing and nasal discharge on the day after modeling and the ending of the intervention were used to evaluate behavioral changes. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of serum IgE and TGF-β1, and the infiltration state of EOS in the nasal mucosa tissue was observed under light microscope after HE staining.
Results: After modeling and compared with the normal control group, the behavioral scores and the levels of serum IgE and TGF-β1 were significantly higher (P<0.05), and the infiltration state of EOS got worse. Compared with the model group, the increased behavioral score and serum IgE and TGF-β1 levels were evidently suppressed (P<0.05) and EOS infiltration severity in the nasal mucosa was obviously milder in both medication and acupoint application groups. No significant differences were found between the medication and acupoint application groups in behavioral score and serum IgE and TGF-β1 levels (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Acupoint application can improve the symptoms of AR rats, which may be associated with its effect in down-regulating the levels of serum IgE and TGF-β1.
Keywords: Acupoint application; Allergic rhinitis; Inflammatory regulation; TGF-β1.