Clinical And Experimental Study Of Acupuncture Treatment In Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B

To evaluate the effect of the treatment of chronic hepatitis B with acupuncture combined with interferon- a (IFN- a ), 70 patients with chronic hepatitis B (with positive HbeAg, HBV DNA and elevated ALT) enrolled were randomized into acupuncture combined with IFN- a group (observed group) and IFN- a group (control group ). The efficacy and safety were evaluated with clinical biochemical (ALT) and virological parameters ( HBV DNA ^ HBeAg) . Peripheral blood dendritic cells (DCs) of patients and normal human were isolated and cultured in serum-free media. The expression of DC surface molecules was analysed by Flow cytometry, the ability of DC to induce T lymphocyte proliferation was evaluated by a liquid scintillation counter, and the amounts of cytokines secreted by DCs and T lymphocytes were detected by ELISA. Probe the role of DCs in the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis B and possible mechanisms of acupuncture treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B. The results showed:1 The expression rate of CD86 on DCs^ the ability of DCs to induce T lymphocyte proliferation and the amounts of cytokines in MLR (IL-12, IFN-y) in patients were significantly lower than that in normal human (p<0.05).This consists with some former study. Indicating that immune function of DC in chronic hepatitis B virus-infected patients was lower than that in normal human.2 Decreased antigen presenting function of DCs is associated with the mechanism of chronic carry and immune tolerance in chronic HBV infected patients, DC may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B.3 After treatment ALT normalization rate (91.67%) and HBVDNA,HBeAg seroconversion rate (63.89%, 58.33% respectively) of observed group were higher than that of control group (p<0.05 or p<0.01). The expression rate of CD86 on DCs,the ability of DCs to induce T lymphocyte proliferation(cpm) and the amounts of cytokines in MLR (IL-12, IFN-y) of observed group were significantly higher than that of control group(p<0.0001).These proved that acupuncture play a significant role in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B patients. 4 The enhancement of DCs function play a role in the regulation of cell-mediated immune reactions and anti-virus indirectly in the acupuncture treatment.In conclusion acupuncture combined with IFN- a treatment significantly enhances the response rate in chronic hepatitis B patients with persistent HBeAg. The therapeutic effect is better than IFN- a treatment. This shows further that acupuncture play a significant role in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B patients.lt also proved that the enhancement of DCs function play a role in the regulation of cell-mediated immune reactions and anti-virus indirectly in the acupuncture treatment. It provided scientific support for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B with acupuncture. It is important to spread the therapy deeply in patients with chronic hepatitis B.