刮痧对健康个体皮肤及系统免疫功能的调节研究

Study of Gua Sha's Effect on the Immune Functions of the Skin and the Body in Healthy Individuals

目的从免疫学的角度研究和探讨刮痧治疗作用的机理。方法在Balb/c小鼠背部皮肤进行刮痧处理后,使用组织染色法观察皮肤组织形态的变化,用流式细胞术和ELISA分别测定局部免疫相关细胞的比例和局部及全身重要细胞因子的含量变化,并通过测定疫苗接种后的抗体滴度,来评估刮痧处理后机体的免疫响应能力。结果刮痧后的皮肤组织毛细血管扩张,红细胞外渗,局部微循环旺盛,免疫活性细胞比例增加,促炎性细胞因子上调,调节性细胞因子下降,表明刮痧能引起局部和全身性反应;并且刮痧处理能诱导机体产生约3倍高的抗原特异性抗体滴度,导致免疫应答倾向于Th1型。结论刮痧可以增强皮肤的微循环,加强其免疫响应的能力,增强和调节先天性免疫及适应性免疫功能,是其产生治疗效果的部分原因。

OBJECTIVE In this study,we investigate Gua Sha’s therapeutic mechanism from immunological approaches.METHODS Gua Sha was performed on the back of Balb/c mice and the effects on the morphology of the skin tissue were observed using histological staining.Flow cytometry and ELISA were employed to determine the proportions of local immune active cells and local and systemic cytokine levels,respectively.Antigen-specific subtype antibody titers against intradermal and intranasal vaccines were utilized to assess Gua Sha treatment on the immunological functions of the skin locally and systematically.RESULTS Blood vessel expansion,erythrocyte extravasation and increased ratios of immune active cells were observed in the skin tissue following treatment,indicating an enhanced microcirculation.Pro-inflammatory cytokines were found up-regulated,and immunosuppressive cytokines downregulated,in both treated and untreated skin areas.These showed that Gua Sha can cause local and systemic effects.Intradermal delivery of a model antigen following Gua Sha treatment induced about threefold higher IgG titers with a more Th1-biased antibody subtype profile.CONCLUSION Gua Sha treatment can boost skin microcirculation,enhance and regulate the innate and adaptive immune functions of the skin,which contributes partially to its therapeutic effects.