Am J Chin Med. 1989 ; 17(3-4): 139-44.

Suppression of the DTH reaction in mice by means of moxibustion at electro-permeable points.

Tohya K, Mastrogiovanni F, Sugata R, Ohnishi M, Kuroiwa K, Toda S, Kimura M, Kawamata J.

Kansai College of Acupuncture Medicine, Osaka, Japan.

The effects of moxibustion stimulation on picryl chloride-induced cutaneous contact hypersensitivity, a delayed type of hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction, were investigated in mice. Three electro-permeable points (B-20, LI-15, S-36) were selected as moxibustion points. Moxibustion at point B-20 (spleen associated point) significantly suppressed the DTH reaction. Adoptive transfer of spleen T cells from moxibustion-stimulated donors resulted in an increased suppression of the DTH reaction in the recipients. These studies suggest that suppression of the DTH reaction with moxibustion may be related to cellular immunity, especially to the induction of the suppressive activity of T cells in the spleen.