[Acupuncture and innate immunity]

Acupuncture is recognized as a procedure to regulate functions of human body. In addition to its known effects on nerve system, emerging evidence suggests that acupuncture also delivers its efficacy through innate immune system. Innate immune system includes three major parts, cytokine activity, complement activity, and cell-based activity. Although initially characterized as natural defense mechanism, innate immune system, especially, the Th1/Th2 cytokine/chemokine networks, plays important roles in regulation of many physiological functions including inflammatory/anti-inflammatory activity, pain, metabolism, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Moreover, innate immune system interacts closely with peripheral and central nerve systems. Roles of cytokines/immune cells (macrophages and T cells) in nerve functions and pathogenesis of neuronal diseases have been increasingly recognized. Likewise. ONS through hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway adjusts immune activity. We present a testable model to validate the effect of acupuncture in innate immune system. The model emphasizes the existence of dynamic cytokine network. The goal is to demonstrate that the combined neuro-immune function is a general mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of different diseases.