艾灸及艾烟对APOE-/-小鼠动脉粥样硬化斑块稳定性的影响

Effects of moxibustion and moxa smoke on atherosclerotic plaque stability in APOE-/- mice

目的:观察艾灸及艾烟对载脂蛋白E基因敲除(APOE-/-)小鼠主动脉内基质金属蛋白酶2(MMP-2)、基质金属蛋白酶9(MMP-9)及基质金属蛋白酶抑制剂1(TIMP-1)水平的影响,从稳定斑块的角度探讨艾灸防治动脉粥样硬化(AS)的机制。方法:采用高脂饮食喂养的APOE-/-小鼠作为AS模型,并随机分为4组:艾灸组、艾烟组、空白对照组、模型对照组。分别运用艾灸、艾烟暴露的方式进行干预,干预14周后牺牲小鼠,取材检测。ELISA法测定主动脉内MMP-2、MMP-9、TIMP-1含量的变化。油红'O'染色观察胸主动脉病理改变。结果:与模型对照组相比,艾灸组、艾烟组小鼠主动脉内MMP-2、MMP-9显著降低(P<0.05),而TIMP-1水平显著升高(P<0.01)。与空白对照组相比,模型对照组胸主动脉可见明显的AS斑块,内膜破坏,中膜增厚,平滑肌细胞破坏变性,管腔变狭窄。相比模型对照组,艾灸组及艾烟组主动脉病变明显减轻。结论:艾灸及艾烟可明显降低AS小鼠MMP-2、MMP-9水平,提高TIMP-1的水平,具有促进斑块稳定性的作用。

Objective:To observe the effect of moxibustion and moxa smoke on MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 of APOE-/-mice and discuss its possible mechanism from the angle of stabilizing plague.Methods:The atherosclerosis model was established by knock outing APOE gene and high-fat diet feeding.APOE-/-mice were randomly divided into moxibustion group,model group,and moxa smoke group.Additionally,sixteen same age C57 BL/6 mice were used as a blank control group.Mice in the moxibustion group were handled and treated with moxibustion on Danzhong(RN17)acupoint while the mice in moxa smoke group were exposed to moxa smoke at certain concentration.All the interventions were given14 weeks totally.Then the mice were killed for examination.The level of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were measured by ELISA,and the plague size in the aorta was observed by red oil‘O’stain.Results:Compared with the model group,MMP-2,MMP-9 levels of moxibustion group and moxa smoke group were decreased significantly(P<0.05),TIMP-1 levels were increased significantly(P<0.01).Compared with the blank control group,plague in model group could be obviously seen in the thoracic aorta,pathological changes including intimal destruction,medium thickness,smooth muscle cell degeneration,lumen stenosis could also be seen in the model group.Compared with model group,aortic lesions in moxibustion group and moxa smoke group were significantly reduced.Conclusion:Moxibustion and moxa smoke can significantly reduce the level of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in atherosclerotic mice,and improve the level of TIMP-1,which can promote the stability of plaques.