Digital gene expression profiling analysis of A549 cells cultured with PM10 in moxa smoke

Background:Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy to cure diseases by fumigating meridians or affected parts via burning of moxa floss.Moxa smoke(MS)is one of the key factors in moxibustion.In this study,we adopted digital gene expression profiling,a next-generation gene sequencing technology,to investigate the effect of MS,inhalable particulate matter(PM10),on human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells.Methods:The effects of MS PM10 on A549 cells,over different treatment durations were investigated in different groups:the 4-h group(4-h MS group and 4-h control group)and the 20-h group(20-h MS group and 20-h control group).Samples collected from the four groups were stored at
80C for subsequent digital gene expression analysis.The differentially expressed genes(DEGs),identified after PM10 treatment,were screened,and their expression patterns analyzed by cluster analysis,Gene Ontology term enrichment,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis.Results:Compared with two control groups,1109 DEGs were identified after 4 h of MS intervention and 3565 DEGs were found after 20 h of MS intervention,respectively.Compared with that after 4-h intervention,2149 DEGs were identified after 20-h intervention.Cluster analysis demonstrated that PM10 can significantly inhibit cell cycle process with the prolongation of intervention time.Significant pathway enrichment analysis showed that MS PM10 can inhibit A549 cell cycle process at all phases.When MS PM10 exposure time prolongs,the inhibitory effect on cell cycle process becomes more obvious.Conclusion:MS PM10 has many biological activities,and may cause differential expression of genes involved in various biological processes.Nevertheless,further research on MS is warranted for better understanding of the mechanistic details.

Repeated exposure to moxa-burning smoke: its acute and chronic toxicities in rats

OBJECTIVE： To assess toxicities of the air in Chinese medicine clinics polluted by moxa-burning smoke due to moxibustion-derived burning products （MBP）. METHODS： Both acute and chronic toxicity studies were conducted. For the acute toxicity study, five groups of Wistar rats （n = 16/group, male： female = 1 ： 1） were exposed to five different concentrations （95%, 90%, 85%, 80% and 75%, respectively） of MBP for 2 h. For the chronic toxicity study, another three groups of male rats （n = 21/group） were ex- posed to MBP in three concentrations （10%, 40% and 70%, respectively） and one control group ex- posed to clean air 20 min/d for 144 d. Routine ex- aminations were performed and analyzed by analy- sis of variance and dose-response relationship. RESULTS： In the acute toxicity study, the number of dead rats in the 95%, 90%, 85%, 80% and 75% groups were 16, 13, 7, 6 LDS0 of 86.274% after or and 3, respectively, with during the 2 h exposure. In the chronic toxicity study, MBP exposure induced a decline in activity of the rats. Rats in the 10% group showed no signs of toxicity, while those in the 40% MBP group showed toxicity effects on the body weights （P 〈 0.05） and lung. Rats in the 70% MBP group also presented with reversible damage in the blood coagulation system （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Exposure to 10% MBP, which is equivalent to 27.45 mg/m^3 was under the critical threshold for male rats＇safety. Exposure to MBP above that limit induced lung damage. MBP in clinics need to be reduced to a safe level with enhanced ventilation.

Twelve-week study of moxa smoke: occupational exposure in female rats

OBJECTIVE: To assess the toxicity of moxa smoke in rats.METHODS: Forty-eight female Wister rats were randomly divided into 4 groups(n = 12/group) to simulate moxa smoke exposure in Chinese medicine clinics(CMCs): the control group, and three moxa-smoke exposed groups of PM10 mass concentrations 3-5, 7-9 and 27-30 mg/m^3, respectively.These concentrations were 1 ×, 2-3 ×, and 7-9 ×fold the concentrations found in CMCs. Exposures continued for 12 weeks(200 min/d, 5 d/week).RESULTS: No deaths were noted. After the exposure, the body weights, ratios of organ weight to body weight, urinary parameters, hematological parameters, clinical chemistry parameters and microscopic examinations revealed no obvious toxicity.CONCLUSION: Moxa smoke did not induce toxic effects in female rats in the study. These findings provide new evidence to the toxicity of moxa smoke.