US authors have formulated an ‘acupuncture immuno-enhancement hypothesis’ to account for the ability of acupuncture to enhance anti-cancer immune function. In their review paper they hypothesise that acupuncture enhances anti-cancer immune functions by stimulating natural killer (NK) cells. The paper summarises current understanding of the mechanisms by which NK cells act to eliminate cancer cells, and reviews evidence that acupuncture is associated with increases in NK cell activity. The authors conclude that acupuncture enhances the ability of the immune system to more actively eliminate malignant cells by increasing the ability of NK cells to kill cancer cells. By increasing cross-talk between the neurotransmitter network and immune system, acupuncture promotes the induction and secretion of NK-cell activating cytokines, which engage specific NK cell receptors that increase the cytotoxicity of NK cells towards cancer cells. (Acupuncture May Stimulate Anticancer Immunity via Activation of Natural Killer Cells. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:481625. Epub 2011 Mar 10).
Categories: Basic acupuncture research, Cancer