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Spinal manipulative therapy reduces inflammatory cytokines but not substance P production in normal subjects
Julita A Teodorczyk-Injeyan1, H Stephen Injeyan, Richard Ruegg
1Division of Research, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Objective:
To examine the effect of a single spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) on the in vitro production of inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin (IL) 1beta, in relation to the systemic (in vivo) levels of neurotransmitter substance P (SP).
Methods:
Sixty-four asymptomatic subjects were assigned to SMT, sham manipulation, or venipuncture control group. SMT subjects received a single adjustment in the thoracic spine. Blood and serum samples were obtained from subjects before and then at 20 minutes and 2 hours after intervention. Whole-blood cultures were activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 hours. Cytokine production in culture supernatants and serum SP levels were assessed by specific immunoassays.
Results:
Over the study period, a significant proportion (P
Conclusions:
SMT-treated subjects show a time-dependent attenuation of LPS-induced production of the inflammatory cytokines unrelated to systemic levels of SP. This suggests SMT-related down-regulation of inflammatory-type responses via a central yet unknown mechanism.
