Immunomodulation of musk-moxa-string therapy in patients with scrofula

The effects of musk-moxa-string therapy on the immune system in man were investigated in 39 patients with scrofula. Before treatment, the numbers of peripheral blood (PB) CD3⁺ and DC4⁺ cells and the ratio CD4⁺/ CD8⁺ were found to be lower in patients with scrofula than in normal subjects, while those of B cells and DR⁺ cells were higher. Response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) diminished in patients with scrofula. At month 2–6 of musk-moxa-string therapy the number of PB CD8⁺ cells showed slight diminution along with significant increaes in CD3⁺ and CD4⁺ cells and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio in total lymphocytes (P<0.001). In vitro a marked increased blastogenic response to mitogen stimulation with PHA was observed in PBMC of patients with scrofula after treatment (P<0.001). In contrast, B lymphocytes, monocytes, DR⁺ cells and blastogenic response to concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen were not influenced by musk-moxa-string therapy.