Effect of Acupuncture Treatment on Level of Serum Interferon (IFN)-γ in BALB/c Model of Leishmania Major Infection

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an endemic parasitic disease in Iran. Current treatments for the disease are not satisfying، have many side effects and are expensive. The healing effect of T-helper 1 (Th1) immune response، especially interferon (IFN) -γ secretion in CL has been previously documented. It has been shown that acupuncture، a traditional Chinese medicine، also might activate Th1 immune response. In this study، the effect of acupuncture on serum level of IFN-γ in experimental CL of BALB/c mice was investigated.

60 BALB/c mice were experimentally infected with Leishmania major and assigned randomly in to three groups: acupuncture treatment group which were given the acupuncture (thirty minutes daily، two days a week for 10 sessions) and intra-peritoneal diazepam، as a sedative agent; control group for diazepam which only received the diazepam; and a control group without any intervention. Serum level of IFN-γ was measured by means of ELISA at the beginning of the study and at sessions 5 and 10 of acupuncture treatment in three groups.

The mean serum level of IFN-γ was not significantly different between and within the groups at the beginning and at the sessions 5 and 10 of the therapy.

This investigation showed that acupuncture may not affect the serum level of IFN-γ in BALB/c model of CL. Moreover، diazepam does not interfere with the serum level of IFN-γ in such a study. Analysis of other immune factors and early measurement of IFN-γ in the course of treatment possibly may display the activated protective immune response against leishmaniasis by acupuncture.