OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) purinergic signaling in mast cells (MCs) modulated by heat to further understand the molecular mechanisms of moxibustion.
METHODS: Skin temperatures induced by monks-hood cake moxibustion were evaluated by measuring the Neiguan acupoint (PC 6) from 31 participants with a digital thermocouple thermometer. Temperatures of 43 degrees C and 52 degrees C were applied to cultured human leukemia mast cell line HMC-1 in vitro. Calcium fluorescence was applied to detect intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+](i)). Extracellular ATP contents were measured by luciferin-luciferase assay.
RESULTS: Maximum skin temperatures mostly ranged from 40-45 C degrees, but some reached up to 50 degrees C. Both 43 degrees C and 52 degrees C induced MC degranulation, which was accompanied by an increase in [Ca2+](i) and ATP release. Complexing extracellular Ca2+ with 5 mM ethylene glycol-bis (B-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) inhibited the noxious heat-induced elevation of [Ca2+](i), and prevented the enhanced ATP secretion by those cells at 52 degrees C, but not 43 degrees C.
CONCLUSION: Monkshood cake moxibustion can generate heat sufficient to trigger cellular events of MCs, including degranulation, [Ca2+](i), elevation, and ATP release, suggesting that purinergic signals originating from MCs are possibly the initiating response of acupoints to moxibustion. (C) 2015 JTCM. All rights reserved.