Wei Gu-Hang, Yang Zong-Bao, Xie Yu-Feng, Pei Meng-Ran, Yang Jin-Lan, Yu Yun-Jin, Cheng Yan-Bin, Chen Bao-Hua
Shenzhen Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine(Futian), Shenzhen 518048, Guangdong Province, China.
Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian Province.
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2021 Oct 25;46(10):829-36. doi: 10.13702/j.1000-0607.201351.
To investigate the effect of refined moxibustion on expression of gastric mucosal epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and changes of metabolite profiles in gastric ulcer (GU) rats, so as to analyze its mechanism underlying improvement of GU.
Male SD rats were randomized into control, model, acupoint moxibustion groups (=6 per group). The GU model was induced by cold-restraint stress. The ignited refined moxa was applied to bilateral "Liangmen" (ST21) and "Zusanli" (ST36) for 3 cones/acupoint, once daily for 7 days. Then, we employed 1H NMR-based metabolomics approach to analyze the metabolic profiles of serum and stomach tissue samples. The conventional histopathological changes of the gastric mucosa were observed by H.E. stain and the expressions of EGFR and VEGF in the gastric mucosa were detected by immunohistochemistry.
Compared to the control group, the expression levels of EGFR and VEGF were significantly increased in the model group (<0.01, <0.05), and further notably up-regulated in the acupoint moxibustion group (<0.001, <0.01). Results of H.E. staining showed damage of the folds of gastric mucosa, disordered arrangement of the glands, infiltration of inflammatory cells and unclear structure of gastric mucosa in the model group, which was relatively milder in the acupoint moxibustion group. 1H-NMR technical analysis showed that in comparison with the control group, 11 and 11 metabolites in the stomach extract and plasma were increased, 10 in the gastric tissue and 3 in the plasma were decreased in the GU model group; while in comparison with the model group, 17 differently expressed metabolites in the gastric extract and 10 metabolites in the plasma restored to their levels of control group after the acupoint moxibustion intervention. These metabolites participate in 12 metabolic pathways including glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, glutathione metabolism, glycine metabolism, alanine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid metabolism, purine metabolism, glyoxylic acid and digarboxylic acid metabolism, biosynthesis of aminoacyl-tRNA, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism, citrate cycle, pyruvate metabolism, and the mutual conversion of pentose and glucuronate，suggesting their involvement in moxibustion-induced improvement of GU.
Refined moxibustion at ST21 and ST36 can up-regulate the expression of EGFR and VEGF in the gastric mucosa and lessen gastric mucosal injury, which may be related to its effects in reducing GU-induced metabolic disorders, including sugar, purine, amino acid, and phospholipid metabolism and antioxidant defense system.
探讨精制艾灸对胃溃疡（GU）大鼠胃黏膜表皮生长因子受体（EGFR）和血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）表达及代谢物谱变化的影响，以分析其改善GU的作用机制。
将雄性SD大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组、穴位艾灸组（每组n = 6）。采用冷束缚应激法制备GU模型。将点燃的精制艾绒置于双侧“梁门”（ST21）和“足三里”（ST36），每穴3壮，每日1次，共7天。然后，采用基于1H NMR的代谢组学方法分析血清和胃组织样本的代谢谱。通过苏木精-伊红（H.E.）染色观察胃黏膜的常规组织病理学变化，采用免疫组织化学法检测胃黏膜中EGFR和VEGF的表达。
与对照组相比，模型组EGFR和VEGF表达水平显著升高（P < 0.01，P < 0.05），穴位艾灸组进一步显著上调（P < 0.001，P < 0.01）。H.E.染色结果显示，模型组胃黏膜皱襞损伤、腺体排列紊乱、炎性细胞浸润、胃黏膜结构不清，穴位艾灸组相对较轻。1H-NMR技术分析显示，与对照组相比，GU模型组胃提取物和血浆中分别有11种和11种代谢物增加，胃组织中有10种、血浆中有3种代谢物减少；与模型组相比，穴位艾灸干预后胃提取物中有17种差异表达代谢物、血浆中有10种代谢物恢复至对照组水平。这些代谢物参与甘氨酸、丝氨酸和苏氨酸代谢、谷胱甘肽代谢、甘氨酸代谢、丙氨酸、天冬氨酸和谷氨酸代谢、嘌呤代谢、乙醛酸和二羧酸代谢、氨酰-tRNA生物合成、氨基糖和核苷酸糖代谢、半胱氨酸和甲硫氨酸代谢、柠檬酸循环、丙酮酸代谢以及戊糖与葡糖醛酸的相互转化等12条代谢途径，提示其参与艾灸改善GU的过程。
ST21和ST36穴位的精制艾灸可上调胃黏膜中EGFR和VEGF的表达，减轻胃黏膜损伤，这可能与其减轻GU诱导的代谢紊乱有关，包括糖、嘌呤、氨基酸和磷脂代谢以及抗氧化防御系统。
