A Study on the Effect of Herbal-acupuncture with Eucomiae Cortex Solution at Joksamni$(ST_{36})$ on Collagen-induced Arthritis

족삼리(足三里) 두충약침(杜沖藥鍼)이 Collagen-induced Arthritis에 미치는 영향

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of Eucomiae Cortex herbal-acupuncture solution(EC-HAS) at Joksamni(ST36) on arthritis of mice induced by Collagen II. Methods : The author performed several experimental items. First, it is the cell survival rate of mice lung fibroblasts. Second, it is the incidence rate of arthritis and arthritis index of CIA. Third, it is the levels of IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$, $IL-{\beta}$, IgG, IgM and anti-collagen II in serum and the level of IFN-y,$IFN-{\gamma}$/IL -4 ratio in CIA mouse spleen cell culture. Fourth, it is histological analysis of the mice joint. Fifth, it is expression ratio of $CD3e^+$ to $CD19^+$+ cell, $CD4^+$ to $CD8^+$ cell, $CD69^+/CD3e^+$/cells, $CD11a^+/CD19^+$/cells, $CD11b^+/Gr-1^+$ cells and $CD4^+/CD25^+$ cells. Results & Conclusion : 1. In the EC-HA, the incidence of arthritis and arthritis index were significantly decreased. 2. In EC-HA, the levels of IL-6, $IFN-{\gamma}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IgG, IgM and anti-collagen II in serum of CIA mice and the level of $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-4, $IFN-{\gamma}$/lL-4 ratio in CIA mouse spleen cell culture were significantly decreased. 3. In the histological study, the cartilage destruction and synovial cell proliferation were decreased in the EC-HA, and the collagen fiber expressions in the EC-HA were similar with that of the Normal group. 4. In the EC-HA, the expression ratio of $CD3e^+$ to $CD19^+$ cell and $CD4^+$ to $CD8^+$ cell were similarly maintained as Normal group in lymph nodes, and $CD69^+/CD3e^+$ cells and $CD11a^+/CD19^+$ cells were decreased in lymph nodes, and $CD11b^+/Gr-1^+$ cells and $CD4^+/CD25^+$ cells were decreased in synovium. These results suggest that EC-HA at ST36 has an effect to control synovial cell proliferation and cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis, and to be put to practical use in the future rheumatoid arthritis clinic.