Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion intervention on the contents of serum IL-7and IL-18 and white blood cell counts in cyclophosphamide(CTX)-induced hypofunction of immunity in tumor-bearing mice

so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of immune suppression caused by chemotherapy.Methods Sixty-four male Kunming mice were implanted with S 180 sarcoma at the left armpit(for making tumor-bearing model)

and then

randomized into control group

model group

acupuncture group and moxibustion group(16mice in each group).The mice of the latter 3groups were injected with CTX(i.p.

150mg·kg-1·d-1)

and those of the control group were injected(i.p.)with normal saline.Filiform acupuncture needle or moxibustion was applied to"Dazhui"(GV 14)

unilateral"Geshu"(BL 17)

"Shenshu"(BL 23)and"Zusanli"(ST 36)once daily for 3or 5days.Contents of serum IL-7and IL-18 were detected by ELISA.Results In comparison with the control group

the plasma leukocyte counts from day 2to day 5

the spleen index and serum IL-18 contents on day 3and5 after administration of CTX were significantly decreased

and serum IL-7contents on day 3and 5after CTX remarkably increased in the model group(P<0.05).Following the treatment

the spleen index on day 3and serum IL-18 content on day 5in the moxibustion group

serum IL-7and IL-18 contents on day 3and 5in the acupuncture group were significantly up-regulated(P<0.05).The effect of acupuncture was markedly superior to that of moxibustion in up-regulating serum IL-18 contents on day 3and 5after the treatment(P<0.05).No significant differences were found between the acupuncture and moxibustion groups in the leukocyte counts and spleen index after the treatment

and in serum IL-7contents on day 3(P>0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture and moxibustion can up-regulate the serum IL-7and IL-18 and white blood cell levels in immuno-suppression mice

which may contribute to their effects in relieving immune hypofunction caused by alkylating agent CTX.