Effect of moxibustion on VEGF and EGF expressions in tumor tissues of rats with gastric tumor

Objective:To explore the inhibitory effect of moxibustion on tumor growth and metastasis, and also its possible mechanism, in gastric tumor-bearing rats by investigating the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Methods:Fifty healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (half male and half female) were routinely housed for 1 week. A total of 20 rats were randomly divided into a blank group and a sham operation group, with 10 rats in each group. The remaining 30 rats were used to make gastric cancer models by implantation of ascites-type Walker-256 cancer cells. After successful modeling, rats were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and an infrared group, with 10 rats in each group. From the day of modeling, the body weight of each group was weighed every 4 days. Warm moxibustion was alternately performed at two-group acupoints [Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4) and bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) in one group, and bilateral Pishu (BL 20) and Weishu (BL 21) in another group] in the moxibustion group. The body surface projection area of the stomach was irradiated with short-wave infrared rays in the infrared group, once a day, 20 min per time for 21 d. At the end of the treatment, the gastric tumor was completely dissected, and the tumor volume and tumor growth inhibition rate were calculated. Then the gastric tumor cell metastasis was recorded. The levels of VEGF and EGF in rat gastric tumor tissues were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results:Compared with the blank group, the body weight of the model group decreased significantly after modeling (P<0.05);compared with the model group, the rats in the moxibustion group had increased body weight during the middle and late stages (bothP<0.05). The tumor volumes of rats in the moxibustion group and the infrared group were smaller than the volume in the model group (bothP<0.05). The tumor growth inhibition rate in the moxibustion group was significantly higher than that in the infrared group (P<0.05). The case number of tumor metastasis in the moxibustion group was smaller than that in the model group and the infrared group. The VEGF level in the tumor tissues of the model group was statistically significantly higher than that in the blank group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the VEGF levels in the moxibustion group and the infrared group were statistically significantly lower (bothP<0.05). The EGF levels in the tumor tissues of the model group was statistically significantly lower than that in the blank group (P<0.05);compared with the model group, the EGF levels in the moxibustion group and the infrared group were statistically significantly increased (bothP<0.05). Conclusion:Moxibustion can increase the body weight, inhibit the tumor growth, invasion and metastasis in gastric tumor-bearing rats, which may be related to the regulation of VEGF and EGF expressions in tumor tissues.

Effect of moxibustion on T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of rats with gastric cancer

Objective:To observe the effect of moxibustion on T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of rats with gastric cancer. Methods:Sixty healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were adaptively fed for one week. By the random number table method, 10 rats were randomly selected as a blank group, and 12 rats were randomly selected to simulate the tumor transplantation process;after transplantation, 10 rats were randomly selected as a sham operation group. The remaining 38 rats were used to prepare gastric cancer models by gastric transplantation of the Walker-256 tumor tissue;8 rats were randomly selected to verify the successful modeling after 7 d;the remaining 30 rats were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and an infrared group by the random number table method, with 10 rats in each group. From the first day of enrollment, the rats in the moxibustion group received mild moxibustion at Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4) and bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) (the first group) and bilateral Pishu (BL 20) and Weishu (BL 21) (the second group), and the two groups of acupoints were alternated every other day. The rats in the infrared group received infrared radiation on the stomach area and the area on the back between the T12-T13 spinous processes, the two areas were alternated every other day. Rats in the moxibustion group and the infrared group were treated for 20 min each time, once a day for 21 d. Rats in the blank group, the sham operation group, and the model group were simultaneously grasped and fixed, and no other treatment was performed. After 21 d of intervention, the rats in each group were fasted for 12 h, and blood was collected from the orbits. The numbers of CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry, and the ratio of CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+ was calculated. The rats were sacrificed and the thymus was dissected under sterile conditions to calculate the thymus index. Results:Compared with the blank group, the thymus index, peripheral blood CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+ and CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+ ratio in the sham operation group did not change significantly (allP>0.05). Compared with the blank group, the thymus index of the model group was increased (P<0.05), the CD3+ and CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes were increased (bothP<0.01), and the CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+ ratio was decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the thymus index of the moxibustion group was increased (P<0.01), and CD3+, CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes and the ratio of CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+ in peripheral blood were increased (allP<0.05). Compared with the infrared group, the thymus index of the moxibustion group was significantly increased (P<0.05), the CD3+ and CD3+CD4+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood were significantly increased (bothP<0.01), and the CD3+CD8+ was increased (P<0.05). Conclusion:Moxibustion can significantly increase the thymus index of gastric cancer-bearing rats and activate CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood.

Effect of moxibustion on expressions of HSP70 mRNA and protein in gastric cancer-bearing rats

Objective:To observe the effect of moxibustion on the mRNA and protein expressions of heat-shock protein 70(HSP70)in gastric cancer-bearing rats.Methods:A total of 40 healthy Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were adaptively fed for one week.The gastric cancer model was prepared by Walker-256 cancer tissue transplantation.After 7 d,10 rats were randomly selected to verify the successful modeling,and the remaining 30 rats were divided into a model group,a moxibustion group and an infrared group by the random number table method,with 10 rats in each group.After enrollment,the moxibustion group received suspended moxibustion at Zhongwan(CV 12),Guan yuan(CV 4)and bilateral Zusanli(ST 36),(the first group of acupoints)on the 1st day,and suspended moxibustion at bilateral Pishu(BL 20)and Weishu(BL 21),(the second group of acupoints)on the 2nd day,20 min each time,once a day.Moxibustion was alternately performed every other day at the two groups of acupoints for 21 d.From the day of en roll me nt,rats in the infrared group were irradiated with the infrared radiatio n at the stomach area on the 1st day,and at the T12-Ti3 interspinous region on the 2nd day,20 min each time,once a day,and the two locations were alternately irradiated every other day for 21 d.During the treatment,rats in the model group were intervened by grasping and fixation without treatment.At the end of the treatment,blood was collected from the inner eye orbit,and the HSP70 expression in peripheral blood was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Rats were sacrificed,the tumor volume and growth inhibition rate were measured.The position and changes of HSP70 in gastric cancer were observed by streptavidin-perosidase(SP);HSP70 protein expression was determined by ELISA;HSP70 mRNA expression in cancer tissues was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(R「PCR)assay.Results:In comparison of the model group,the volume growth of the gastric cancer in the moxibustion group was significantly restricted(P<0.01);the volume growth inhibition rate in the moxibustion group was 37.93%;the HSP70 expressi on in peripheral blood and the cancer tissues was sign ifica ntly in creased(both P<0.01);the expressio n of HSP70 mRNA and HSP70 content in gastric tumor were both obviously in creased in the moxibustion group(P<0.01);and a large amount of HSP70 was released to the outside of cancer cells in the moxibustion group.In comparison of the model group,the volume growth of the gastric cancer in the infrared group was slightly restricted(P<0.05)with a volume growth inhibition rate of 15.89%;the HSP70 expression in the infrared group was increased significantly in peripheral blood(P<0.01)and in the gastric cancer tissues(P<0.05);more HSP70 was released outside of the cancer cells in the infrared group.In comparison of the infrared group,the volume growth of gastric cancer was more restricted in the moxibustion group(P<0.05)z and the HSP70 expression in the gastric cancer tissues was also higher(P<0.05);more HSP70 was released outside of the cancer cells in the moxibustion group.Conclusion:Moxibusti on and in fra red treatme nt inhibit the gastric can cer growth in the gastric cancer-bearing rats,up-regulate the HSP70 expression in gastric cancer tissues,and promote the production and extracellular release of HSP70,and the effect of moxibustion is more obvious.