title: Regulative effects of auricular acupuncture, moxibustion and Chinese herbs on immunologic function in the D-galactose-induced aging mouse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the regulative effect of auricular acupuncture, moxibustion and Chinese herbs on immunologic function in the D-galactose-induced aging mouse and to probe the feasibility and possible mechanisms for delaying aging, so as to provide experimental basis for acupuncture, moxibustion and Chinese herbs for delaying aging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aging mouse model was established by subcutaneous injection of D-galactose, and treated by auricular acupuncture, auricular acupuncture plus moxibustion, and auricular acupuncture plus Chinese herbs respectively for 6 weeks and then serum interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-6 contents and splenic lymphocyte transformation rate were compared among the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the young group, the serum IL-2 level and the splenic lymphocyte transformation rate significantly decreased and the IL-6 level significantly increased in the aging mouse. After treatment by auricular acupuncture, auricular acupuncture plus Chinese herbs, especially auricular acupuncture plus moxibustion, the serum IL-2 level and the splenic lymphocyte transformation rate significantly increased, and the IL-6 level significantly decreased as compared with the model group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined application of auricular acupuncture, moxibustion and Chinese herbs can improve the decline or dysfunction of immunological function in the aging organism to a certain extent.
authors.affiliation: Affiliated Hospital of Guiyang Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China.
authors.forename: Su
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Xiangli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ling
mesh_terms: D020831:Acupuncture, Ear; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005690:Galactose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009071:Moxibustion; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D005690:Galactose