Ding Yi-Xia, Chen Liang-Liang, Li Kui-Wu, Zou Ling, Liao Lu-Min, Han Xiao-Yu, OuYang Jie, Wu Yue-Ping, Zhang Wen-Dong, Chu Hao Ran
Department of Encephalopathy (V), The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine (Anhui Acupuncture Hospital), Hefei, Anhui, China.
Institute of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China.
Front Neurol. 2025 Feb 27;16:1450868. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1450868. eCollection 2025.
The aim of this study is to assess the impact of moxibustion on the colonic mucosal barrier and gut microbiota in a rat model of cerebral ischemic stroke (CIS).
The CIS rat model was established using the modified Zea Longa suture method. Successfully modeled rats were randomly allocated into a model group and a moxibustion group, with a sham surgery group serving as the control. The moxibustion group received suspended moxibustion at Dazhui (GV 14), Baihui (GV 20), Fengfu (GV 16), and bilateral Tianshu (ST 25) and Shangjuxu (ST 37) acupoints. Neurological function was assessed using the Longa score, and brain infarct size was assessed through 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed using 16S rDNA amplification sequencing. Intestinal mucosal permeability was evaluated using the FITC-Dextran tracer method. The serum ET-1 levels and the expression of Occludin and ZO-1 proteins in colonic tissues were also measured.
The model group exhibited significantly higher Longa scores, larger brain infarct size, and higher serum FITC-Dextran levels and ET-1 levels when compared with the sham surgery group ( < 0.01). The model group demonstrated decreased expression of Occludin and ZO-1 in colonic tissues ( < 0.01) and changes in gut microbiota structure. When compared to the model group, the moxibustion group demonstrated significantly lower Longa scores, smaller brain infarct size, and lower serum FITC-Dextran levels and ET-1 levels ( < 0.05). Furthermore, the moxibustion group demonstrated decreased inflammatory cell infiltration in colonic tissues, increased expression of Occludin and ZO-1 proteins in colonic tissues ( < 0.05), enhanced gut microbiota structure, and a decreased Simpson index ( < 0.05).
Moxibustion can improve the neurological dysfunction in CIS model rats. The mechanism may be associated with the improvement in gut microbiota dysbiosis, reduction in colonic mucosal permeability, and restoration of intestinal mucosal barrier damage.
本研究旨在评估艾灸对脑缺血性中风（CIS）大鼠模型结肠黏膜屏障和肠道微生物群的影响。
采用改良的Zea Longa缝合方法建立CIS大鼠模型。将成功建模的大鼠随机分为模型组和艾灸组，假手术组作为对照。艾灸组在大椎（GV 14）、百会（GV 20）、风府（GV 16）以及双侧天枢（ST 25）和上巨虚（ST 37）穴位进行悬灸。使用Longa评分评估神经功能，通过2,3,5-三苯基氯化四氮唑染色评估脑梗死体积。采用16S rDNA扩增测序分析肠道微生物群组成。使用异硫氰酸荧光素-葡聚糖示踪法评估肠黏膜通透性。还测量了血清ET-1水平以及结肠组织中闭合蛋白和ZO-1蛋白的表达。
与假手术组相比，模型组的Longa评分显著更高、脑梗死体积更大、血清异硫氰酸荧光素-葡聚糖水平和ET-1水平更高（<0.01）。模型组结肠组织中闭合蛋白和ZO-1的表达降低（<0.01），肠道微生物群结构发生改变。与模型组相比，艾灸组的Longa评分显著更低、脑梗死体积更小、血清异硫氰酸荧光素-葡聚糖水平和ET-1水平更低（<0.05）。此外，艾灸组结肠组织中的炎性细胞浸润减少，结肠组织中闭合蛋白和ZO-1蛋白的表达增加（<0.05），肠道微生物群结构得到改善，辛普森指数降低（<0.05）。
艾灸可改善CIS模型大鼠的神经功能障碍。其机制可能与改善肠道微生物群失调、降低结肠黏膜通透性以及修复肠黏膜屏障损伤有关。
