Regulative effect for natural killer cell by hot spring hydrotherapy—Quantitative and qualitative discussion

Abstract

Along with maintaining immune competent cells, one of the purposes of cancer patient is regulating the first line of defense for survival. Moreover, the factors that influence the acquired immune activity are systemic metabolic disorder in diabetes, malnutrition, extreme exhaustion, stresses, aging and medical side effect such as chemotherapy. So we have to select appropriate menu to regulate immune function through leukocyte storage. Especially, NK cell is first line of defense against virus infected cell and/or tumor cell. In order to recommend the effect of hot spring hydrotherapy on the peripheral white blood cells as a parameter for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) within a short period, the granulocytes, lymphocytes, lymphocyte subsets in their peripheral blood were monitored. In the young group (35 or less), the number of granulocytes clearly decreased after hydrotherapy. In the older group (over 35 years old), the total number of leukocytes and lymphocytes significantly increased after the therapy. Using a FACScan, we investigated CD2, CD4, CD8, CD16, CD19 and CD56 positive cell as well as the cytokine containing cell, as direct assessment for immunological preparation (IFN- γ , IL-4 and IL-1 β ). After hydrotherapy, the CD16 + cells also increased outstandingly. However, the CD19 + cells clearly decreased. Moreover, there was a decrease in the cytokine-pro ducing cell count of subjects whose blood cells had a higher number of the cell level before. All of the results indicated that hot spring hydrotherapy could regulate the immune system even in normal human. Like this, blood hormonal level was measured in order to know the mechanism of the quantitative and qualitative, adjustment of the leucocytes becomes possible within a short term. As a result of measuring, 7 kinds of hormone including mainly adrenocortical hormones, adrenalin level reduced in constitution dependent manner. From these results, it was suggested that the quantitative and qualitative fluctuation of the leukocyte by the hydrotherapy is closely related to dynamics of blood hormonal level.