Effect of moxibustion on tumor necrosis factor-α and nuclear transcription factor kappa B in ankle joints of rats with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective： To observe the effect of moxibustion on the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α） and nuclear transcription factor kappa B（NF-κB） proteins in ankle joints of rats with rheumatoid arthritis（RA）, and to explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of moxibustion in the treatment of RA. Methods： Adjuvant arthritis（AA） rat models were induced and used as rat models of RA. Rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a moxibustion group and a saline group. Rats in the normal and model groups were not treated; rats in the moxibustion group accepted treatment by moxibustion at Zusanli（ST 36） and Shenshu（BL 23） after modeling; rats in the saline group were injected with 0.15 mL saline to the bottom of the left hind paw and had no other treatments. Hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of rats＇ ankle joints under light microscope. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expressions of TNF-α and NF-κB in ankle joints of rats. Results： Compared with the normal group, the rats＇ ankle joints in the model group showed disorganization, joint surface defect, and significantly increased mean optical density（MOD） of TNF-α and NF-κB（all P〈0.05）. After moxibustion treatment, rats in the moxibustion group showed repaired ankle tissues, smooth joint surface without defects, decreased MOD of TNF-α and NF-κB than those in the model group（all P〈0.05）. Rats in the saline group had no damage to ankle joints, while TNF-α and NF-κB were significantly different from those in the model group（P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Moxibustion could down-regulate the expressions of NF-κB and TNF-α protein in ankle joints of RA rats, and produce an anti-inflammatory effect to promote tissue repair.

Regulating effect of moxibustion on MCP-1 and NF-κB in the colonic mucosa tissue of rats with Crohn's disease

Objective To observe the effect of moxibustion on the expression levels of MCP-1 and NF-κB proteins in the colonic mucosa tissue of rats with Crohn＇s disease（CD）. Methods Morris method, which is internationally recognized, was adopted to establish CD rat models. The rats were randomly divided into blank control group, CD model group and moxa stick moxibustion group. In the moxa stick moxibustion group, the cigarette-like moxa sticks were used for suspended moxibustion at the locations 2 cm from Píshū（脾俞 BL 20） and Zhōngwǎn（中脘 CV 12）. The treatment was conducted once a day, lasted for 20 min at each time, and 7 times were needed; one acupoint was used for each time, and the two acupoints were used alternately. Under light microscope, HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of colon, and immunohistochemical method was adopted to observe the expression levels of MCP-1, NF-κB p 65 and NF-κB p 50 proteins in colonic mucosa tissue of rats. Results Compared with the blank control group, in CD model group, mucosa and glands defect or disappearance, villus damage, submucosal congestion and edema, and elcosis were found; the average optical density of the expression of MCP-1, NF-κB p 50 and NF-κB p 65 proteins in the colonic mucosa tissue of rats significantly increased（P〈0.01）. Compared with the CD model group, in the moxa stick moxibustion group, the inflammatory response of colonic mucosa of rats improved significantly, mainly manifesting as relieved submucosal edema, a small amount of inflammatory cells infiltration, and regular intestinal glands distribution; the average optical density of the expression of MCP-1, NF-κB p 50 and NF-κB p 65 proteins in the colonic mucosa tissue of rats significantly decreased（P〈0.05）. Conclusions Moxibustion can down-regulate the expression levels of MCP-1 and NF-κB proteins in the colonic mucosa of CD rats.