不同直径艾条悬灸改善类风湿性关节炎大鼠TNF-α、IL-6和IL-2表达的比较

Comparison of Suspended Moxibustion with Moxa Sticks of Different Diameters on the Expressions of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-2 in Rheumatoid Arthritis Rats

目的通过控制穴区表面温度,观察不同直径艾条悬灸足三里穴区对类风湿关节炎(RA)大鼠关节活动和炎性因子的影响,探讨动物艾灸实验中艾条规格的选择标准。方法健康成年雄性SD大鼠48只,随机选取8只作为正常组,其他采用模拟自然风、寒、湿环境与生物因子弗氏完全佐剂结合的方法造模,造模成功后随机分为模型组、0.5 cm艾条灸组(0.5 cm组)、0.9 cm艾条灸组(0.9 cm组)、1.2 cm艾条灸组(1.2 cm组)、1.8 cm艾条灸组(1.8 cm组)5组,每组8只。艾条灸组通过调节施灸距离控制穴区表面温度为(45±1)℃。观察各组大鼠足跖肿胀度,以苏木素-伊红(HE)染色检测各组大鼠足跖关节组织病理变化;采用酶联免疫吸附测定法(ELISA)检测血清中肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白介素-6(IL-6)、白介素-2(IL-2)的含量。结果模型组大鼠足跖与踝部呈急性炎症红肿,足跖围度较正常组明显增粗(P<0.01),各艾灸组大鼠足跖围度较模型组有所下降(P<0.01),1.8 cm组在改善大鼠足跖围度方面较0.5 cm组效果更佳(P<0.05);组织病理学观察可见模型组关节腔内炎性浸润和滑膜增生,各艾灸组较模型组明显改善(P<0.01),0.9 cm、1.2 cm、1.8 cm组在减轻大鼠关节滑膜增生方面优于0.5 cm组(P<0.01);模型组较正常组大鼠血清中IL-6、TNF-α含量升高(P<0.01),IL-2含量下降(P<0.01),艾灸组较模型组大鼠TNF-α和IL-6的含量下调(P<0.01),IL-2的含量增高(P<0.01),0.9 cm、1.2 cm、1.8 cm组大鼠血清学指标情况优于0.5 cm组(P<0.01)。结论艾条悬灸在抑制RA大鼠关节肿胀、改善局部组织炎性浸润、减轻滑膜增生方面具有一定作用。0.9 cm、1.2 cm、1.8 cm直径艾条悬灸治疗RA大鼠效果优于0.5 cm直径艾条。

Objective By temperature control of the acupoint surface,to observe the effects of suspended moxibustion with moxa sticks of different diameter sizes at Zusanli(ST36)on the joint motion and inflammatory cytokines in rats with rheumatoid arthritis(RA),and to discuss the standard for selecting moxa stick specification in moxibustion experiments on animals.Method Of 48 healthy male adult SD rats,8 were randomly chosen as the normal control group,while the rest underwent modeling process which combined a simulated windy,cold and damp natural environment and biological factor complete Freund’s adjuvant(CFD).The successful models were randomized into a model group,a 0.5 cm moxastick moxibustion group(0.5 cm group),a 0.9 cm moxa-stick moxibustion group(0.9 cm group),a 1.2 moxastick moxibustion group(1.2 cm group),and a 1.8 cm moxa-stick moxibustion group(1.8 cm group),with 8 rats in each group.In the moxa-stick moxibustion groups,temperature of the acupoint surface was maintained around(45±1)℃.Plantar swelling degree was observed each group,and HE staining was used to detect the histopathological changes in rat’s plantar joint;ELISA was adopted to determine the contents of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-6 and IL-2 in serum.Result Rats in the model group showed acute inflammatory reactions manifested as red swollen paw and ankle and increased plantar circumference compared with the normal group(P<0.01),while the plantar circumference declined to some extent in each moxa-stick moxibustion group compared with the model group(P<0.01),and the improvement in rat’s plantar circumference was more significant in the 1.8 cm groups than in the 0.5 cm group(P<0.01);histopathological observation revealed inflammatory infiltration and synovial proliferation in rat’s articular cavity in the model group,while notable improvement was found in each moxibustion group,and the effect in reducing synovial proliferation in rat’s articular joint was more significant in the 0.9 cm,1.2 cm and 1.8 cm groups than in the 0.5 cm group(P<0.01);the serum contents of IL6 and TNF-αincreased and the content of IL-2 decreased in the model group compared with the normal group(P<0.01),while the contents of TNF-αand IL-6 were down-regulated and the IL-2 content was up-regulated in each moxibustion group compared with the model group(P<0.01),and the serological indicators in the 0.9 cm,1.2 cm and 1.8 cm groups were superior to those in the 0.5 cm group(P<0.01).Conclusion Suspended moxibustion can play a certain role in inhibiting RA rats joint swelling,improving topical inflammatory infiltration and reducing synovial proliferation.Suspended moxibustion with moxa sticks of 0.9 cm,1.2 cm or 1.8 cm in diameter can produce more significant efficacy in treating RA rats compared with moxa sticks of 0.5 cm in diameter.