[Exploring the effect of acupuncture at the "Qiaomai" points on the immune function of central and peripheral macrophages in insomnia rats based on the "Defense Qi Theory"].

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of acupuncture at the "Qiaomai" points on the immune function activity of central and peripheral macrophages in insomnia rats, so as to explore its underlying therapeutic mechanisms. METHODS: positive cells in peripheral blood. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression levels of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and arginase-1 (Arg-1) in hippocampal tissue. The BioLegend LEGENDplex™ multiplex assay was used to measure the levels of 6 inflammatory factors in the plasma of peripheral blood, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin(IL)-12, IL-1β, IL-1α and IL-6. RESULTS: