Abstract
We have reported the Moxibustion (Mox) applied to the acupoint MEIMON (GV4) suppressed severity of murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Mox treatment changed lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood. Increase of CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cells was particularly noticed. At the same time, spleen volume increase was observed with elevation of clinical arthritis score. Spleen might have essential relation to the pathophysiological stage of CIA. Therefore, to examine the influence of the immune response in the spleen by Mox treatment, we investigated the change of spleen lymphocyte subpopulations by Flow cytometric analysis. Male DBA 1J mice were separated into 4 groups. Group 1, Control: no treatment. Group 2, Control + Mox: treated with Mox by 1mg moxa cone 5 times a day, 3 days a week, for 2 weeks. Group 3, CIA: immunized with bovine type II collagen twice at 3 weeks interval. Group 4, CIA + Mox: immunized and treated with Mox. Clinical symptom was observed until day 35 in CIA, while the symptom was significantly suppressed in CIA + Mox at day 35. At the initial stage (day 28), spleen volume was significantly increased in CIA and CIA + Mox. The percentage of CD3+ T cells was significantly decreased in CIA + Mox. However, the percentage of CD25+CD4+ T cells and the ratio of CD25+ in CD4+ T cells were significantly increased in CIA + Mox. Together with previous study, present study suggested that suppressive effect of moxibustion involve alteration of T cell line including increase of CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cells. [J Physiol Sci. 2008;58 Suppl:S215]
