Objective To observe the effect of short wave diathermy on the functioning of dendritic cells ( DCs) derived from the spleens of hepatitis B virus ( HBV) transgenic mice. Methods HBV transgenic mice were treated with short wave diathermy for 10 days. Dendritic cells were then separated from their spleens and incubated with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor ( GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 ( IL-4 ). The phenotypes of the DCs were assayed by flow cytometry ( FCM) ,IL-12 released by the DCs and IL-10 and IFN-? produced by the T cells in a mixed lymphocyte reaction( MLR) were measured using ELISA. Results Short wave diathermy could enhance the DCs' phenotype expression, increase IL-12 levels ( P