Influence of Finnish Bath and Radon Balneotherapy on the Frequency and Activity of Natural Killer Cells in Peripheral Blood.

Journal/Book: Z Phys Med Baln Med Klim. 1988 (Sonderheft 1);17:47-53.. 1988;

Abstract: The frequency of long granular lymphocytes (LGL) and NK-activity in peripheral blood was assessed in normals in patients with degenerativ joint disease and ankylosing spondylitis before and after exposure to a Finnish bath and a 24 day-course of radon balneotherapy. Saunists were found to have a significantly higher number of LGL than non-saunists. Moreover in 9 saunists tested an increase of natural killer cell activity in response to IL-2 and IFN-alpha-2 could be demonstrated after a 20 minutes-exposure to the Finnish bath. Significantly decreased natural killer cell activity but normal numbers of LGL in peripheral blood were found in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and degenerativ joint disease. In contrast to normals natural cell activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis was suppressed by IL-2 in vitro. After a 24 day-course of radon balneotherapy blood natural cell activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and degenerative joint disease was normalized and was no longer suppressible by IL-2 in vitro. We therefore conclude that hyperthermia in Finnish bath or radon balneotherapy is able to stimulate the NK-system either by increasing the number of LGL or by activating its functional activity and/or responsiveness to IL-2.

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