Ma Wenbin, Liu Xuguang, Qin Yong, Zhou Haiyan, Yang Xin
Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2016 Apr;36(4):396-401.
To explore the rhythm regulatory mechanism of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the process of moxibustion for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
A total of 144 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a moxibustion group, a sham operation group, an operation group, an operation+moxibustion group, 24 rats in each one. Each group was divided into 4 time points (0:00 am, 6:00' am, 12:00 am, 6:00 pm), 6 rats in each time point. The Light-Dark 12 : 12 was given in all rats for light-dark cycle. Except the blank group, rats in the remaining groups were treated with intracutaneous injection of freund's complete adjuvant at right-side foot to establish the model of RA. After the model establishment, bilateral adrenal, glands were removed in the operation group and operation + moxibustion group, while those in the sham operation group were not removed with identical operation procedure. Rats in the moxibustion group and operation + moxibustion group were treated with grain-sized moxibustion from 7:00 am to 9:00 am at "Shenshu" (BL 23) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) once everyday, 6 times were taken as one session and 3 sessions were required tatclly, while rats in the remaining groups received identical fixation without moxibustion. The general health state and foot volume of rats were measured before model establishment, after establishment and after treatment. After treatment, rats were sacrificed at each time point to collect the blood sample and measure the content of IL-6 by using enzymne-immunoassay method.
Compared with the blank group, the foot swelling in the model group was obviously increased (P<0. 05); the IL-6 maintained circadian rhythm (P<0. 05), but the peak phase had a backward trend, famplitude had an increased trend and the median was significantly lifted (P<0. 05). Compared with model group, !the foot swelling in the moxibustion group was obviously decreased (P<0. 05); the IL-6 maintained circadian. rhythm (P<0. 05), and the peak phase had a forward trend, amplitude had a decreased trend and the median was significantly reduced (P<0. 05). Compared with the moxibustion group, the foot swelling in the operation--moxibustion group was obviously increased (P < 0.05); the IL-6 maintained circadian rhythm (P < 0.5), but the peak phase moved forwrd, and the median was significantly elevated (P < 0.05).
The IL-6 in plasma maintains significant pathological circadian rhythm in RA rats; with the complete hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, moxibustion is likely to regulate the circadian rhythm of IL-6 to play an important role of anti-inflammatory effect in RA rats.
探讨艾灸对类风湿关节炎（RA）大鼠白细胞介素-6（IL-6）节律调节机制。
将144只Sprague-Dawley（SD）大鼠随机分为空白组、模型组、艾灸组、假手术组、手术组、手术+艾灸组，每组24只。每组再分为4个时间点（上午0:00、上午6:00、中午12:00、下午6:00），每个时间点6只大鼠。所有大鼠均给予12小时光照-12小时黑暗的明暗周期。除空白组外，其余各组大鼠右侧足皮内注射弗氏完全佐剂建立RA模型。造模后，手术组和手术+艾灸组大鼠双侧肾上腺切除，假手术组大鼠行相同手术操作但不切除肾上腺。艾灸组和手术+艾灸组大鼠每天上午7:00至9:00于“肾俞”（BL 23）和“足三里”（ST 36）进行麦粒灸，每天1次，6次为1疗程，共3疗程，其余各组大鼠给予相同固定但不艾灸。于造模前、造模后及治疗后测量大鼠的一般健康状况和足容积。治疗后，于各时间点处死大鼠，采集血样，采用酶联免疫吸附测定法检测IL-6含量。
与空白组比较，模型组大鼠足肿胀明显增加（P<0.05）；IL-6维持昼夜节律（P<0.05），但峰值相位有后移趋势，振幅有增加趋势，中位数显著升高（P<0.05）。与模型组比较，艾灸组大鼠足肿胀明显减轻（P<0.05）；IL-6维持昼夜节律（P<0.05），峰值相位有前移趋势，振幅有降低趋势，中位数显著降低（P<0.05）。与艾灸组比较，手术+艾灸组大鼠足肿胀明显增加（P<0.05）；IL-6维持昼夜节律（P<0.05），但峰值相位前移，中位数显著升高（P<0.05）。
RA大鼠血浆IL-6存在明显的病理性昼夜节律；在完整的下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴存在的情况下，艾灸可能通过调节IL-6的昼夜节律对RA大鼠发挥重要的抗炎作用。
