Variation of Cell Populations Taking Charge of Immunity in Human Peripheral Blood Following Hot Spring Bathing. Quantitative Discussion / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

In order to investigate an effects of the hot spring within a short period on immune system of human, the leukocyte, monocytes, lymphocyte and lymphocyte surface markers CD2, CD4, CD8, CD16, CD19 and CD57 were tested in the human peripheral blood of twenty-three healthy volunteers by hot spring bathing. The results were as follows Total number of leukocytes and lymphocytes in the peripheral blood significantly increased in an older group after hot spring bathing (p<0.01). However, we obtained a clear decrease in the number of granulocyte after hot spring bathing in the younger group (p<0.01). In addition, we found greater increase of the CD16⁺ cell counts and a clear decrease of the CD19⁺ cell counts in older group. But in younger group, we also obtained an increase of CD8⁺, CD16⁺ cells after hot spring bathing. These results indicated that hot spring bathing can regulate the physical immune system.<br>According to the percentage of lymphocytes or granulocytes in the total leukocytes, volunteers were divided into two types, more than 70% of granulocyte were recognized as G type and more than 40% of lymphocyte were divided in the L type. We found an increase of lymphocyte and lymphocyte subsets as well as a decrease in granulocyte in G group by hot spring bathing. But in L group, especially, indicated a greater increase in granulocyte and a decrease in lymphocyte subsets. We suggest that hot sping bathing can regulate by an autonomic nerve system, making it suitable.