Cytoprotection of external bioenergy to injury caused by hypoxia,
heat and oxidative stress

Principal Investigator: Juliann G Kiang PhD

Affiliations: Research professor of medicine, adjunct professor of pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.

Background: Cell injury and repair occurs under a variety of circumstances including secondary to hypoxia, heat and oxidative stress. The efficacy of conventional medicine remedies to facilitate repair and healing are limited. External bioenergy to accomplish healing, as in the form of therapeutic touch, distant healing and qigong, have been an integral part of traditional medical practices over time. This investigator’s preliminary data indicate that a single application of external bioenergy applied by a healer is associated with the initiation of signal transduction, increases in the concentration of intracellular calcium ion in human T cells and reduces calcium concentration in response to heat stress. The purpose of this research application is to explore the mechanism of action for these cytoprotective changes.

Hypotheses: External bioenergy provides cytoprotection against hypoxia, heat and oxidative stress leading to cell repair and healing. It exerts these actions through alterations in the concentrations of intracellular calcium ion, intracellular hydrogen ion and adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP).

Methods and materials: Two healers will participate in this research. Human Jurkat T cells will be exposed to external bioenergy from a healer for a specific length of time and intracellular ion and ATP concentrations measured. The effects of distance, shielding, number of treatments and duration of treatments will be identified. With this baseline information, several inhibitors specific to regulatory genes and proteins located centrally and on the cell membrane will be used to determine the mechanisms associated with changes in intracellular calcium ion, intracellular hydrogen ion and ATP. The last experiment involves the cells being treated with several days of external bioenergy treatment followed by exposure to hypoxia, heat and oxidative stress. Lactate dehydrogenase activity and MTT assays will be performed. A sham control comparison will be performed by an inexperienced imitator.
 

Kiang JG, Marotta, D, Wirkus M, Jonas WB. External bioenergy increases intracellular free calcium concentration and reduces cellular responses to heat stress. J Invest Med 2002: 50-38-45.