EFFECTS OF ACUPUNCTURE ON AN OXAZOLONE INDUCED SKIN ALLERGIC DERMATITIS ANIMAL MODEL USING MALE ICR MICE

Abstract

Atopic disease is gradually increasing and the difficulty of treatment is an important problem in the world. In particular, it is well known that atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease associated with an imbalance between T helper type 1 (Th1) and T helper type 2 (Th2) cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of acupuncture on an oxazolone induced skin allergic dermatitis animal model using male ICR mice. First, ICR mice were sensitized with oxazolone and then, at the challenge phase, acupuncture treatment was started. The experimental results showed that acupuncture treatment inhibited swelling of the ears and ear weight compared to non-acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture treatment inhibited the expression of serum cytokines (IL-2, IL-10, IFN- y ) compared to non-acupuncture treatment. In addition, acupuncture, inhibited the expression of ear tissue cytokines (IL-4, IFN- y, Ig-E) . These findings suggest that acupuncture treatment may inhibit skin allergic dermatitis in ICR mice.