JAM掲載論文検索
Japanese Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Online)
JAM 2016;Vol.12:1-8
Effect of acupuncture stimulation on salivary human beta-defensin 2 after a single strenuous exercise in young male subjects
HANAOKA Yukichi1), SHIMIZU Kazuhiro2), WATANABE Koichi3), AKAMA Takao4), MIYAMOTO Toshikazu5)
1) Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
2) Japan Institute of Sports Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
3) Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
4) Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan
5) Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
Abstract
[Objective] The aim of this study was to examine the effect of acupuncture stimulation on mucosal immune function after a single period of intense exercise by measuring salivary human beta-defensin 2 (hBD2).
[Methods] Seven healthy young men (age, 23.4 ± 0.6 years) randomly participated in two experimental sessions: exercise–rest (ex–rest) and exercise–acupuncture (ex–acp) experiments, with a crossover design. Subjects exercised on a cycle ergometer for 60 min at 75% of their maximal oxygen uptake. In the ex–acp experiment, acupuncture stimulation was applied to meridian points (LU6, LI4, ST36, and ST6) for 30 min after the exercise session. In the ex–rest experiment, subjects rested without acupuncture. Saliva samples were collected before exercise, immediately after the exercise, and 1, 2, 3, and 24 h after exercise. Samples were evaluated for hBD2 concentrations using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Salivary total protein (TP) was measured using Pierce 660nm Protein Assay. Finally, the salivary hBD2 level was shown as an hBD2-to-TP ratio (hBD2/TP).
[Results] The salivary flow rate significantly increased after 2 h in the ex–acp subjects (P < 0.05), whereas there was no significant change in the ex–rest experiment. The hBD2 concentration did not significantly change in the ex–rest and ex–acp experiments. The hBD2/TP did not significantly change in ex–acp experiment. In contrast, the hBD2/TP of the ex-rest experiment significantly decreased immediately, 1, and 2 h after exercise (P < 0.05).
[Conclusion] Acupuncture stimulation attenuated the decrease in hBD2 level induced by strenuous exercise. These results suggest that acupuncture treatment might contribute to improving the impairment of mucosal immune function mediated by hBD2 following intensive exercise.