Effects of Acupoint-injection plus moxibustion on IL-2/IL-2R expression in peripheral blood in the patient with carcinous pain

Objective To probe into the regulative mechanism of acupoint injection of morphine plus moxibustion on immune functions of lymphocytes in the patient with carcinous pain. Methods Forty four cases of carcinous pain were randomly divided into an acupuncture moxibustion treatment group ( n =23) and a routine treatment group ( n =21). They were treated respectively by acupoint injection of morphine plus moxibustion and routine injection of morphine for 20 days. Interleukin 2 (IL 2) content in peripheral blood was determined by ELISA and the mRNA expression of interleukin 2 receptor (IL 2R) by reverse transcripase polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR). Results Serum IL 2 content increased in the acupuncture moxibustion treatment group as compared with the routine treatment group ( P 0 05) and the healthy group ( P 0 01); the mRNA positive expression rate was 65 22% in the acupuncture moxibustion treatment group and 23 81% in the routine treatment group, with a significant difference between the two groups ( P 0 01). Conclusion Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment can directly or indirectly cure carcinous pain through promoting IL 2 secretion and mRNA expression of IL 2R, improving the lower immune functions of lymphocytes in the patient with carcinous pain.