Yin Yuan, Chen Tian-Wei, Zhang Rui, Ma Wen-Zhu
School of Acu-moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2017 Apr 25;42(2):149-52.
To observe the influence of moxibustion on serum interleukin -17 (IL-17) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats, so as to study its mechanism underlying improvement of rheumatoid arthritis.
A total of 40 male Wistar rats were used in the present study, and 8 rats were randomly selected as a normal control group. The other 32 rats were modeled. The primary immunity emulsion was made with mixed Type Ⅱ chicken collagen and complete Freund's adjuvant, and 0.3 mL emulsion (containing 0.3 mg collagen) was injected equally into left pelma, tail root and the back. Seven days after the primary immune, the same procedure was conducted to induce the secondary immunity, and the emulsion was made with mixed Type Ⅱ chicken collagen and incomplete Freund's adjuvant. The whole course of mo-deling lasted 21 days. And then 24 CIA rats were randomly divided into model group, medication group and moxibustion group (=8 in each group). For those of the moxibustion group, suspended moxibustion with 20 mm distance above "Zusanli"(ST 36)and "Kunlun" (BL 60) was performed for 20 min/acupoint, once daily, alternately on left and right hind limbs for 10 consecutive days. For those of the medication group, gavage of methotrexate (0.1 mg/100 g) was administrated once every 5 days, and totally two times. Left ankle joint diameter and body weight were detected, and X-ray of left tarsus was observed in each group before and after modeling or after treatment. Serum levels of IL-17 and TNF-α were determined by ELISA kits.
After modeling, the left ankle diameter and serum concentrations of IL-17 and TNF-α increased (<0.05), and the body weight decreased (<0.05) in the model group compared to the control group, combined with the tarsus soft tissue swelling, joint space narrowing, bone destruction seen from the tarsal X-ray. After intervention, the ankle diameter, the serum IL-17 and TNF-α levels decreased (<0.05), and the body weight increased (<0.05) in both medication and moxibustion groups compared to the model group; meanwhile the tarsus soft tissue swelling and the bone deformity turned to be improved. There were no significant differences between the medication group and the moxibustion group in above mentioned indexes (>0.05).
Moxi-bustion is effective in CIA rats, and the mechanism may be related to the reduction of serum IL-17 and TNF-α levels.
观察艾灸对胶原诱导性关节炎（CIA）大鼠血清白细胞介素-17（IL-17）和肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）水平的影响，以探讨其改善类风湿关节炎的作用机制。
本研究共选用40只雄性Wistar大鼠，随机选取8只作为正常对照组。其余32只大鼠进行造模。用Ⅱ型鸡胶原蛋白与完全弗氏佐剂制成初次免疫乳剂，将0.3 mL乳剂（含0.3 mg胶原蛋白）等量注入左足底、尾根及背部。初次免疫7 d后，采用相同方法进行二次免疫，用Ⅱ型鸡胶原蛋白与不完全弗氏佐剂制成乳剂。整个造模过程持续21 d。然后将24只CIA大鼠随机分为模型组、药物组和艾灸组，每组8只。艾灸组大鼠在“足三里”（ST 36）和“昆仑”（BL 60）上方20 mm处进行悬灸，每穴20 min，每日1次，左右后肢交替进行，连续10 d。药物组大鼠每5 d灌胃甲氨蝶呤（0.1 mg/100 g），共2次。分别检测各组造模前、造模后及治疗后左踝关节直径和体质量，并观察左跗骨X线片。采用ELISA试剂盒检测血清IL-17和TNF-α水平。
与对照组比较，模型组造模后左踝关节直径及血清IL-17、TNF-α浓度升高（P<0.05），体质量下降（P<0.05），跗骨X线片可见跗骨软组织肿胀、关节间隙变窄、骨质破坏。干预后，与模型组比较，药物组和艾灸组踝关节直径及血清IL-17、TNF-α水平降低（P<0.05），体质量增加（P<0.05），同时跗骨软组织肿胀及骨质畸形均有所改善。上述指标药物组与艾灸组比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。
艾灸对CIA大鼠具有治疗作用，其机制可能与降低血清IL-17和TNF-α水平有关。
