title: [Effect of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Intervention on Contents of Serum Interleukin-7 and In- terleukin-18 in Cyclophosphamide-induced Immune Suppression in Tumor-bearing Mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion intervention on the contents of serum IL-7 and IL-18 and white blood cell counts in cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced hypofunction of immunity in tumor-bearing mice, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of immune suppression caused by chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four male Kunming mice were implanted with S 180 sarcoma at the left armpit (for making tumor-bearing model) , and then, randomized into control group, model group, acupuncture group and moxibustion group( 16 mice in each group). The mice of the latter 3 groups were injected with CTX (i. p. , 150 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)), and those of the control group were injected (i. p.) with normal saline. Filiform acupuncture needle or moxibustion was applied to "Dazhui" (GV 14) , unilateral "Geshu" (BL 17) , "Shenshu"(BL 23) and "Zusanli"(ST 36) once daily for 3 or 5 days. Contents of serum IL-7 and IL-18 were detected by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the control group, the plasma leukocyte counts from day 2 to day 5, the spleen index and serum IL-18 contents on day 3 and 5 after administration of CTX were significantly decreased, and serum IL-7 contents on day 3 and 5 after CTX remarkably increased in the model group (P < 0.05). Following the treatment, the spleen index on day 3 and serum IL-18 content on day 5 in the moxibustion group, serum IL-7 and IL-18 contents on day 3 and 5 in the acupuncture group were significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05). The effect of acupuncture was markedly superior to that of moxibustion in up-regulating serum IL-18 contents on day 3 and 5 after the treatment (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the acupuncture and moxibustion groups in the leukocyte counts and spleen index after the treatment, and in serum IL-7 contents on day 3 (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture and moxibustion can up-regulate the serum IL-7 and IL-18 and white blood cell levels in immuno-suppression mice, wnicn may contribute to their effects in relieving immune hypofunction caused by alkylating agent CTX.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jing-jing
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Da-ming
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Xi-xin
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Guang-an
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009071:Moxibustion; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D015851:Interleukin-7; D003520:Cyclophosphamide