Electroacupuncture and moxibustion influence the lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-alpha production by macrophages.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the modifying effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and moxibustion (Mox) through the communication networks of the neuroimmune system using the two-step bacterial stimulation method. When EA or Mox treatment was implemented immediately following injection of the Streptococcus pyogenes preparation OK-432, a significant suppression of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha production by the peritoneal macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS 1 microg/ml) was observed. When the stimulation with EA or Mox was reduced in volume, the degree of suppression decreased correspondingly.