There is an increasing body of evidence that heroin addiction is associated with severe alterations in immune function, which might contribute to an increased risk to infectious diseases like hepatitis B and C or HIV. However, the impact of Baduanjin exercise on T cell function in heroin user is not well understood. Therefore, we analyzed the frequency of immune-suppressive CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3 regulatory T cells (Tregs) isolated from peripheral blood of heroin users before (n=30) and after (n=30) practicing Baduanjin exercise. Interestingly, we detected a significant decrease in the percentage of Tregs in PBMC of heroin addicted patients after practicing Baduanjin exercise for 3 months. The proliferative response of PBMCs decreased in heroin users, but elevated after practicing Baduanjin exercisers, whose mechanism might be related to the cytokine of TGF-beta. These results suggest that the impaired immune responses observed in heroin users can be restored by Baduanjin exercise through decreasing Tregs or suppressing cytokine TGF-beta.
[1]Univ Shanghai Sci & Technol, Sch Med Instrument & Food Engn, Shanghai 200093, Peoples R China.
[2]Shanghai Qigong Inst, Mailbox 213,516 Jun Gong Rd, Shanghai 200030, Peoples R China.
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