Immune Netw.  2002 Jun;2(2):109-114. 10.4110/in.2002.2.2.109.

The Effect of Chemical Sympathectomy on Moxibustion-Induced Immunomodulation in the Rat Spleen

• Han JB
• Oh SD
• Lee KS
• Choi KS
• Cho YW
• Ahn HJ
• Bae HS
• Min BI

• KMID: 1571491
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2002.2.2.109

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To investigate the role of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in moxibustion-induced immunomodulation, the effects of chemical sympathectomy on moxibustion-induced changes in splenic NK cell cytotoxicity, T and B cell proliferation were studied in Sprague-Dawley male rats.
METHODS
Chemical sympathectomy was achieved with intraperitoneal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine 50 mg/kg/day for 3 successive days. Direct moxibustion (6-minute interval, 9 moxa ball, each of which weighing 0.007 g and burning for 40 seconds) was applied on unilateral anterior tibial muscle region where Zusanli (ST36) acupoint is located, once a day for 7 successive days. NK cell cytotoxicity was measured by 4hr-51Cr release assay. Mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation was analyzed by [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay.
RESULTS
NK cell cytotoxicity was suppressed by moxibustion, more in sympathectomized rats than in vehicle-treated rats. T cell proliferation induced by concanavalin A was not affected by moxibustion. B cell proliferation induced by lipopolysaccharide showed no significant change in vehicle- treated rats, but an increase in sympathectomized rats by moxibustion. Sympathectomy alone induced augmentation of NK cell cytotoxicity and suppression of T cell proliferation.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that SNS has no direct relation with moxibution-induced immunomodulation but has an important role in the mechanism to keep the homeostasis of immune system by tonically inhibiting excessive changes of various immune components.

Keyword

Chemical sympathectomy; 6-hydroxydopamine; moxibustion; NK cell; T-cell; B-cell

MeSH Terms

Acupuncture Points
Animals
B-Lymphocytes
Burns
Cell Proliferation
Concanavalin A
Homeostasis
Humans
Immune System
Immunomodulation*
Injections, Intraperitoneal
Killer Cells, Natural
Lymphocytes
Male
Moxibustion
Muscle, Skeletal
Oxidopamine
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Spleen*
Sympathectomy
Sympathectomy, Chemical*
Sympathetic Nervous System
T-Lymphocytes
Concanavalin A
Oxidopamine