To evaluate the effect of moxibustion (MOX) on the immune activity and compare with the changes of immune related cells, we examined the effect of Mox on the symptom severity and the changes of white blood cell (WBC) number, CD11b ( adhesion molecule ) and CD69 ( the early activation antigen ) expression of neutrocytes in the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice. DBA/1J mice were immunized with type II collagen. CIA mice were divided into three groups. Control group : no treatment, Mox group : Mox treatment with 1mg moxa cone was applied 5 times a day to the MEIMON acupoint, 3 times per week for 3 weeks. Pred group : 10mg of prednisolone was administered orally, 3 times per week for 3 weeks. Symptom severity was evaluated using arthritis score method. CD11b and CD69 expression of neutrocytes were counted using flow cytometry. Arthritis score was suppressed significantly in the Mox group. WBC number was significantly decreased in Pred group, while not changed in Mox group. CD11b expression was not changed in Mox and control, while significantly increased in Pred group on day 35. CD69 expression in Mox groups was significantly increased on day 31 as compared with Control and Pred groups. The results suggested that Mox might suppress the symptom severity of CIA through the different mechanism from the inhibitiion of inflammatory reaction in vivo. [J Physiol Sci. 2006;56 Suppl:S240]
