Abstract
ObjectiveThe skin is an important immunological barrier of the body as well as an optimal route for vaccine administration. Gua Sha, which involves press-stroke treatment of the skin, is an effective folk therapy, widely accepted in East Asia, for various symptoms; however, the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects have not been clarified. We investigated the influence of Gua Sha on the immunological features of the skin.MethodsGua Sha was performed on BALB/c mice and the effects were evaluated using anatomical, histological, and cytometric methods as well as cytokine determination locally and systemically. The effect on intradermal vaccination was assessed with antigen-specific subtype antibody responses.ResultsBlood vessel expansion, erythrocyte extravasation, and increased ratios of immune active cells were observed in the skin tissue following the treatment. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were up-regulated, and immunosuppressive cytokines, down-regulated, in the treated and untreated skin and systemic circulation; no obvious variations were detected in case of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Interestingly, intradermal delivery of a model vaccine following Gua Sha induced about three-fold higher IgG titers with a more Th1-biased antibody subtype profile.ConclusionGua Sha treatment can up-regulate the innate and adaptive immune functions of the skin and boost the response against intradermal antigens. Thus, Gua Sha may serve as a safe, inexpensive, and independent physical adjuvant for intradermal vaccination.
Highlights
People scratch their skin unconsciously in response to an itching sensation despite the fact that it may open and damage wounds at the site and result in infection and even inflammation
The Chinese invented therapies based on mechanical manipulation of the skin, e.g., Gua Sha and Baguan (Cupping), around 2,000 years ago, which are empirically effective towards multiple conditions such as chronic pain, common cold, heatstroke, and respiratory problems
The functions of scratching and the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of Gua Sha encouraged us to undertake this study
Summary
People scratch their skin unconsciously in response to an itching sensation despite the fact that it may open and damage wounds at the site and result in infection and even inflammation. Scratching can accelerate the expansion of erythema and exacerbate symptoms in patients with contact urticaria or atopic dermatitis (Wuthrich, 1998). With these side effects as tradeoffs, scratching must have some value that allows its existence. How to cite this article Chen et al (2016), Gua Sha, a press-stroke treatment of the skin, boosts the immune response to intradermal vaccination. The Chinese invented therapies based on mechanical manipulation of the skin, e.g., Gua Sha and Baguan (Cupping), around 2,000 years ago, which are empirically effective towards multiple conditions such as chronic pain, common cold, heatstroke, and respiratory problems. The functions of scratching and the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of Gua Sha encouraged us to undertake this study
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