Zhang Qian, Qiao Yun, Shi Yi-Rong, Pang Ji-Li, Song Shi-Jun, Tang Hong-Yuan, Qin Le-Ming, Zeng Guo-Yuan
College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Guangxi University of CM, Nanning 530200, China.
Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2023 Jun 12;43(6):684-90. doi: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.20220412-k0013.
To observe the effect of acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) + "Dingchuan" (EX-B 1) and "Kongzui" (LU 6) + "Yuji" (LU 10) for the airway remodeling in asthma rats based on the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/ Smad family member 3 (Smad3) signaling pathway; and explore the efficacy difference between the two acupoint combinations.
Forty SPF male SD rats, aged 4 weeks, were randomly divided into a blank group ( = 10) and a modeling group ( = 30). The ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization method was used to establish asthma model in the modeling group. After successful model preparation, the rats of the modeling group were randomized into a model group, an acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) + "Dingchuan" (EX-B 1) (AAF) group, and acupuncture at "Kongzui" (LU 6)+"Yuji" (LU 10) (AAK) group, with 10 rats in each one. Starting from day 15 of the experiment, 5 min after motivating, acupuncture was applied to "Feishu" (BL 13) + "Dingchuan" (EX-B 1) and "Kongzui" (LU 6)+"Yuji" (LU 10) in the AAF group and the AAK group respectively. The intervention was delivered for 30 min each time, once daily, lasting 3 weeks consecutively. Using lung function detector, the airway resistance (RL) and dynamic compliance (Cdyn) of the lungs were detected. The histomorphology of lung tissues was detected with HE staining and Masson staining, and the mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 in lung tissues was detected with the real-time PCR and Western blot methods.
Compared with the blank group, RL was increased and Cdyn was decreased in the rats of the model group (<0.01); and RL was reduced and Cdyn was increased in the AAF group and the AAK group when compared with those in the model group (<0.01, <0.05). The rats of the model group had bronchial lumen stenosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen fibre hyperplasia and thickened smooth muscle in the lung tissues when compared with those in the blank group; and in comparison with the model group, all of the above morphological changes were attenuated in the AAF group and the AAK group. Besides, these morphological changes of the lung tissues were more alleviated in the AAF group when compared with those in the AAK group. In comparison with the blank group, the mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 of the lung tissues was increased in the model group (<0.01), and it was reduced in the AAF group and the AAK group when compared with that in the model group (<0.05, <0.01). The mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 was lower in the AAF group when compared with that in the AAK group (<0.05).
Acupuncture at either "Feishu" (BL 13)+"Dingchuan" (EX-B 1) or "Kongzui" (LU 6)+"Yuji" (LU 10) reduces the airway remodeling in the rats with asthma, which may be related to the down-regulation of mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3. The better efficacy is obtained with acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13)+"Dingchuan" (EX-B 1).
基于转化生长因子-β1（TGF-β1）/Smad家族成员3（Smad3）信号通路，观察针刺“肺俞”（BL 13）+“定喘”（EX - B 1）与“孔最”（LU 6）+“鱼际”（LU 10）对哮喘大鼠气道重塑的影响；并探讨两组穴位配伍的疗效差异。
选取40只4周龄SPF级雄性SD大鼠，随机分为空白组（n = 10）和造模组（n = 30）。造模组采用卵清蛋白（OVA）致敏法建立哮喘模型。造模成功后，将造模组大鼠随机分为模型组、针刺“肺俞”（BL 13）+“定喘”（EX - B 1）（AAF）组和针刺“孔最”（LU 6）+“鱼际”（LU 10）（AAK）组，每组10只。从实验第15天起，激发后5 min，分别对AAF组和AAK组大鼠针刺“肺俞”（BL 13）+“定喘”（EX - B 1）与“孔最”（LU 6）+“鱼际”（LU 10）。每次干预30 min，每日1次，连续干预3周。采用肺功能仪检测大鼠肺组织气道阻力（RL）和动态顺应性（Cdyn）。用HE染色和Masson染色检测肺组织的组织形态学，采用实时荧光定量PCR和Western blot法检测肺组织中TGF-β1和Smad3的mRNA及蛋白表达。
与空白组比较，模型组大鼠RL升高，Cdyn降低（P<0.01）；与模型组比较，AAF组和AAK组大鼠RL降低，Cdyn升高（P<0.01，P<0.05）。与空白组比较，模型组大鼠肺组织支气管管腔狭窄、炎性细胞浸润、胶原纤维增生、平滑肌增厚；与模型组比较，AAF组和AAK组上述形态学改变均减轻，且AAF组肺组织上述形态学改变较AAK组更轻。与空白组比较，模型组大鼠肺组织TGF-β1和Smad3的mRNA及蛋白表达升高（P<0.01）；与模型组比较，AAF组和AAK组降低（P<0.05，P<0.01）。AAF组TGF-β1和Smad3的mRNA表达低于AAK组（P<0.05）。
针刺“肺俞”（BL 13）+“定喘（EX - B 1）或“孔最”（LU 6）+“鱼际”（LU 10）均可减轻哮喘大鼠气道重塑，其机制可能与下调TGF-β1和Smad3的mRNA及蛋白表达有关，且针刺“肺俞”（BL 13）+“定喘”（EX - B 1）疗效更佳。
