The Effects of Acupuncture on TGF-beta1, TGF-beta3, EGF, and IL-6 in the Burn Wound Healing of Rats

Chang, Ho Jun; Woo, Bong Sik; Shin, Che Soo; Seo, Youn Kyoung; Paik, Doo Jin; Kim, Nam Soo

Abstract

The present study was performed to examine whether acupuncture can regulate the expression of cytokines that play important roles in wound healing and morphological changes in the burn wound healing of rats, such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, TGF-beta3, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250~300 g were divided into two control groups and two experimental groups. Among the control groups, no-treatment group was classified as C and acupuntured group as Ca. Among the experimental groups, burned group (n = 6) was classified as B and acupunctured group after burn (n = 6) as Ba. The lumbar area of rats was burned 15 x 25 mm in size for 15~18 seconds with special small iron adapter and acupunctured at 5~7 mm in diameter and 1 cm in depth using 0.25 mm x 50 mm acupuncture needle for 20 minutes in wound area. Rats in group Ca were acupunctured once. Rats in group Ba were acupunctured every 12 hours 3 times. Rats were sacrificed at days 1, 3, 7, 15 and 20 after burn treatment. Morphological changes were examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining methods. The expression profiles of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta3, EGF and IL-6 were detected by immunohistochemical staining methods. The results we obtained were as follows: 1. In gross observation, the burn wounds were less odorous and cleaner in the acupunctured group (Ba) compared with those of no-acupuncture group (B). 2. Reepithelialization and formation of panniculus carnosus and granulation tissue were more prominent at days 3 and 7 in the acupunctured group Ba than group B. However, this difference was disappear at day 15. 3. In the muscle of group B, TGF-beta1 was observed after day7. However, in group Ba, TGF-beta1 was observed as early as days 1 and 3 and rapidly turnovered at day 7. 4. For TGF-beta3, both B and Ba groups showed similar results. 5. At day 3, EGF was observed in the subcutaneous tissue in both B and Ba groups. However, in day 7, EGF was rapidly decreased in Ba group compared with that of B. 6. For IL-6, both B and Ba groups showed similar results in epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue and muscle. But, at day 3, IL-6 was rapidly decreased in theconnective tissue under the muscle in Ba group compared with that of B. These results suggest that acupuncture may improve the wound healing in the early stage by increasing the TGF-beta1 that is essential for the formation of extracellular matix and by decreasing EGF.