Nonthermal ultrasound can stimulate which of the following immune-related processes?

Nonthermal ultrasound can stimulate which of the following immune-related processes?

• A. Secretion of cytokines
• B. Suppression of cytokines
• C. Cytokine degradation
• D. No cytokine involvement

Answer: (A)

Nonthermal ultrasound works through mechanical effects rather than heating tissue. Those mechanical cues can boost the activity of immune cells, like macrophages and dendritic cells, by increasing cell membrane permeability and triggering signaling pathways that lead to cytokine production. This results in the secretion of cytokines, which are key mediators of the immune response and help coordinate inflammation and healing. Suppressing or degrading cytokines isn’t the expected outcome of nonthermal ultrasound, and there is involvement of cytokines, not an absence of them.

Nonthermal ultrasound works through mechanical effects rather than heating tissue. Those mechanical cues can boost the activity of immune cells, like macrophages and dendritic cells, by increasing cell membrane permeability and triggering signaling pathways that lead to cytokine production. This results in the secretion of cytokines, which are key mediators of the immune response and help coordinate inflammation and healing. Suppressing or degrading cytokines isn’t the expected outcome of nonthermal ultrasound, and there is involvement of cytokines, not an absence of them.