Modulation of lipopolysaccharide-induced cytotoxic factor and interferon production by moxibustion in mice

Pretreatment of mice with moxibustion (Mox) modulated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endogenous cytotoxic factor (CF) and interferon (IFN) production in serum. CF was measured by the L929 cytotoxicity test and IFN by the cytopathic effect microassay on L929 cells with vesicular stomatitis virus. Significant inhibition of CF activity was observed when Mox and LPS were applied simultaneously. Its potentiation was maximal, about 9 times the control level, when treatment intervals between Mox and LPS were 24-72 hours, and declined thereafter. Mox treatment modified LPS-induced IFN production with a similar biphasic pattern but the onset of modification was delayed. This is the first report of modulation of cytokine production by Mox treatment.