Aberrant NKG2D receptor expression on CD 4 T cells were considerably reduced by accumulated effect of traditional Thai massage in Thai elderly

Abstract

Abstract Natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) is a potent activating receptor of the immune system that can express on most of T cells. The NKG2D expression on CD 4 T cells have elucidated as pathogenic immune cells in chronic inflammatory diseases also elderly. A possible effect of traditional Thai massage (TTM) on immunity via inflammatory response and homeostasis was supposed. TTM is an exclusive technique of deep tissue massage by acupressure along ten meridian lines and combined muscle stretching. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of TTM on pathogenic immune cells in elderly. A randomized crossover trial was performed in 12 Thai elderly participants aged 67.7±5.12 years. Each of them underwent 6 sessions of 1-hour TTM/rest (once weekly) for 5 weeks with a 30-day washout period. The immunophenotyping was specifically investigated on cell surface markers using monoclonal antibody conjugated with different fluorochromes staining by flow cytometry. The results showed that the participants had risen NKG2D expression on CD 4 T cells before having TTM. The pathogenic immune cells were considerably reduced after having the sessions accumulated of TTM. The pairwise comparison between before and accumulated effect of NKG2D expressions on CD4+ T cells, CD4+28+ T cells, and CD4+28null T cells were significantly decreased (p=0.003, p=0.005, and p=0.005, respectively) in the TTM period whereas no significantly change was found during the control period. We conclude that TTM might promote immunity by selectively decreasing pathogenic immune cells in elderly. However, the mechanism should be clarified in the future.