Mechanisms of action of radon therapy on cytokine levels in normal mice and rheumatoid arthritis mouse model

The typical indication of radon therapy is rheumatoid arthritis. Although there are several reports that radon therapy has regulation effects on Th17 cells, there has been no study reporting that radon inhalation affects the immune balance among Th1, Th2, and Th17. The purpose of this study is to examine the cytokine changes after radon inhalation. BALB/c mice inhaled radon at 2,000 Bq/m3 for 2 or 4 weeks. SKG/Jcl mice inhaled radon at 2,000 Bq/m3 for 4 weeks after zymosan administration. The results showed that radon inhalation for 4 weeks activated the immune response of Th1, Th2, and Th17. Moreover, the balance among them was not lost by radon inhalation. Radon inhalation for 4 weeks decreased superoxide dismutase activity and increased catalase activity in spleen. These findings suggest that an imbalance of oxidative stress may contribute to activate the immune response. Although zymosan administration activated Th17 immune response and decreased Th1 and Th2 immune response in SKG/Jcl mice, most cytokines related to Th1, Th2, and Th17 approached the normal level by radon inhalation. These findings suggested that radon inhalation has a different action between SKG/Jcl mice and normal BABL/c mice. This may indicate that radon inhalation has an immunomodulation function.