ABSTRACT
In the previous papers, we reported the effects of electronic moxibustion on immune response of experimental rats to the exogeneous antigens, human γ-globulin.<br>The results supported the theory, “non-specific heat aggregeted autologous tissue protein stimulation therapy” presented by Dr. Shimetaro Hara in 1933.<br>Therefore, in this paper we chose two kinds of antigens, one is the T-cell dependent antigen, dinitrophenylated keyhole limpet hemocyanin (DNP-KLH), the other is the T-cell independent antigen dinitrophenylated Ficoll (DNP-Ficoll) to analyse the mechanism of electronic moxibustion whether it enhances the immune response or not.<br>Using 9 weeks old femal SLC-Wistar rats, we administered the electronic moxibustion according to the method reported in the previous papers. Following daily moxibustion for 8 weeks, antigens were giver twice at intervals of one week together with Freund's complete adjuvant. And 4 days later from the last antigen stimulation direct, DNP plaque forming cells in the spleen were counted.<br>The results obviously showed daily electronic moxibustion for 8 weeks enhanced immune response against the T-cell dependent antigen (DNP-KLH) stimulated rats but no effect on the immune response to the T-cell independent antigen (DNP-Ficoll) stimulated rats.<br>The daily electronic moxibustion for 4 weeks to rats failed to show any effective results against both antigens stimulation.<br>The responses of spleen cells against mitogenic lectins, PHA, Con A and PWM were analysed 3 days after the incubation with lectins by tritiated thymidine up takes into cells. The results also showed the animal group received the electronic moxibustion for 8 weeks manifested higher response against the one of T-cell mitogens, Con A compared with either the group received the electronic moxibustion for 4 weeks or the control group, not received any treatment.<br>These results suggested that the immune activation mechanism exhibited by the electronic moxibustion is via the activation of T-cell function and the electronic moxibustion does not act on B cell nor antibody forming cells.<br>The direct effects on the animal skin by the electronic moxibustion were shown exactly the same physical characteristics as the conventional moxibustion method as reported in the previous papers. Therefore, we could expect the similar T-cell activation effect on the immune response by the conventional moxibustion.<br>But from our results to get such a T-cell activation by the electronic moxibustion, it has been necessary to administrate the electronic moxibustion daily at least for more than 4 weeks.<br>Next we would like to make clear what kinds of subpopulation in the T-cell populations are activated by the electronic moxibustion.<br>Before the clinical administration of the electronic moxibustion as one of immune activators, it is necessary to investigate further about the optimal amounts of the moxibustion, effects of the moxibustion on the cellular immunity or tumor immunity.