Acute effects of Qi-training on natural killer cell subsets and cytotoxic activity

Objective

Natural killer (NK) cells play a role in the first line of defence against virus-infected cells and are also important in immunosurveillance against spontaneously arising tumours. This study was designed to examine the effect of Qi training on the cellular immune system, with special reference to the proportion of NK cell subset and activity.

Materials and methods

Eighteen men were randomly allocated to perform ChunDoSunBup (CDSB) Qi-training (26.1 years old) or resting control (26.8 years old). The acute change of natural killer cell activity was determined before (–10 min), immediately after and 1 h after the CDSB Qi-training. Assay for cytotoxicity was analysed by using a non-isotopic method which measures the LDH release from the tumour target cell. The NK cell subsets (CD57) were examined by flow cytometry.

Results

An increase in NK cell cytotoxicity was observed after Qi-training. NK activity was significantly increased, more than 1.6 times compared with the basal value of before Qi-training (P < 0.01). The increased level of NK activity was recovered to basal level within 2 h. The resting subjects did not show any change of specific lysis for the resting 2 h. There was no change in the number of NK cell subsets after Qi-training. No correlation between the NK cytotoxicity and the NK cell number was found.

Conclusion

These data suggest that CDSB Qi-training has an acute stimulatory effect on NK cell activity, but has no effect on fluctuations of phenotypical changes of NK cell subsets, and may exert a positive immunological effect in man.

(This research was supported by the Brain Korea 21 Project in 2002.)