Investigation of the Lower Resistance Meridian: Speculation on the Pathophysiological Functions of Acupuncture Meridians

Table 2

Major mast-cell-derived mediators and their physiological effects [22].

Class	Mediators	Physiological effects
Performed mediators	Histamine, serotonin, heparin, neutral proteases (tryptase and chymase, carboxypeptidase, cathepsin G), major basic protein, hydrolase, peroxidase, phospholipases	Vasodilation, vasoconstriction, angiogenesis, mitogenesis, pain, protein processing/degradation, lipid/proteoglycan, arachidonic acid generation, tissue damage, inflammation
Lipid mediators	LTB4, LTC4, PGE2, PGD2, PAF	Leucocyte chemotaxis, vasoconstriction, bronchoconstriction, platelet activation, vasodilation
Cytokines	TNF-, TGF-, IFN-, IFN-, IFN-, IL-1, IL-1, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-11, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, IL-16, IL-18, IL-25, SCF, MIF	Inflammation, leucocyte migration/proliferation
Chemokines	CXCL8, CCL3, CCL2, CCL7, CCL13, CCL5, CCL11, CCL19	Chemoattraction and tissue infiltration of leucocytes
Growth factors	CSE, GM-CSF, bFGF, VEGE, NGF, LIF	Growth of various cell types, vasodilation, neovascularization, angiogenesis

SCF, stem cell factor; GM-CSF, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; bFGF, basic fibroblast growth factor; NGF, nerve growth factor.