Waon Therapy: Effect of Thermal Stimuli on Angiogenesis

Abstract

Tei et al. developed a form of thermal therapy, namely, Waon therapy, which uses a dry sauna with temperature maintained at 60 °C and differs from the traditional sauna. We have previously reported that Waon therapy improves cardiac and vascular function in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and demonstrated that the molecular mechanism by which Waon therapy improves vascular flow and endothelial function is through increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression.

In a mouse model of hindlimb ischemia, we demonstrated that eNOS is a critical regulator of angiogenesis by Waon therapy. Furthermore, we reported that Waon therapy upregulates the heat shock protein 90 which contributes to the activation of the Akt/eNOS/NO pathway and induces angiogenesis in mice with hindlimb ischemia.

In addition, we have demonstrated that repeated Waon therapy is safe for patients with severe peripheral artery disease (PAD) and potentially effective as evidenced by substantial decrease in the pain score, by increases in ankle-brachial pressure index and blood flow assessed by laser Doppler perfusion imaging, and by formation of new collateral vessels on angiography. Ischemic ulcers heal or improve markedly. Moreover, we reported that Waon therapy mobilized circulating endothelial progenitor cells and improved limb ischemia in patients with PAD.

In conclusion, the thermal stimulus by Waon therapy is one of noninvasive therapies of therapeutic angiogenesis for PAD.