Objective To observe the effects of different quantity of moxibustion of "Dazhui"(GV 14)on the levels of serum interleukin-4(IL-4)

interferon-γ(IFN-γ)

and immunoglobulin E(IgE) in asthma rats

so as to reveal its mechanisms underlying immune regulation.Methods Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into control

model

moxibustion-15 min(M-15 min)

M-30 min

M-60 min

and M-120 min groups(10 rats/group).Asthma model was established by intraperitoneal injection of sensitized-suspension(containing egg albumin

aluminium hydroxide

and deactivated Bacillus pertussis) and ovalbumin-aerosol inhalation.Moxibustion was applied to "Dazhui"(GV 14) for 15

30

60 and 120 min

respectively.Serum IL-4

IFN-γ and IgE contents were assayed by ELISA(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).Results Compared with the control group

serum IL-4

IFN-γ and IgE levels were increased significantly(P<0.01)

and serum IFN-γ/IL-4 level was down-regulated obviously(P<0.01)in the model group.After the moxibustion treatment

the levels of serum IL-4 and IgE in the M-15 min

M-30 min

M-60 min

and M-120 min groups were reduced significantly compared with the model group(P<0.01

P<0.05).The ratios of IFN-γ/IL-4 in the M-15 min

M-30 min

M-60 min

and M-120 min groups were significantly higher than that in the model group(P<0.05

P<0.01).Comparison among the M-15 min

M-30 min

M-60 min

and M-120 min groups showed that the therapeutic effects of the M-30 min group were evidently superior to those of the M-15 min group

and those of the M-60 min group were significantly superior to those of the M-30 min group in lowering serum IL-4 and IgE contents and up-regulating IFN-γ/IL-4(P<0.05

P<0.01).No significant differences were found between the M-60 min and M-120 min groups in down-regulating IL-4 and IgE levels

and in raising IFN-γ/IL-4 level

as well as among the M-15 min

M-30 min

M-60 min and M-120 min groups in elevating se-rum IFN-γ levels(P>0.05).Conclusion Moxibustion can restrain the secretion of IL-4

relieve the inflammatory reaction of IgE

and enhance the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 in asthma rats

which presents an increase tendency of the curative effect along with the extension of the treatment time from 15 min to 60 min.Excessively long time(>60 min)of treatment is not necessary.