Moxibustion Inhibits the Expression of Colonic NLRP3 through miR7/RNF183/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in UC Rats

Background. Moxibustion has been recognized as an effective approach for ulcerative colitis, yet its mechanism is not clear. The research aimed to investigate the influence of moxibustion on the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and its mechanism in treating ulcerative colitis by observing miR7/RNF183 inducing IκB α ubiquitination to regulate NF-κB signaling pathway in an ulcerative colitis rat model. Methods. An ulcerative colitis rat model was established by unlimited access to self-administration of 3.5% (w/v) dextran sulfate sodium solution. Mild moxibustion was applied to bilateral Tianshu points (ST25) in the moxa-stick moxibustion group; rats in the control group were intervened by intraperitoneal injection of ubiquitination inhibitor, MG132. The disease activity index was determined at the end of the intervention; colon injury was observed and scored after hematoxylin-eosin staining; the immunohistochemical method was adopted to detect the expressions of colonic IL-1β and NLRP3 proteins; Western blot determined the expressions of RNF183, IκB α, and NF-κB p65 proteins in the colon; the immunofluorescence test was used to observe the coexpression of IκB α/ubiquitin and IκB α/RNF183 proteins in the colon; immunoprecipitation assay was adopted to observe the interaction between IκB α and RNF183 proteins; and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction determined the expression of colonic miR7. Results. Moxibustion lowered the disease activity index, manifesting as restored colonic tissue and reduced inflammatory reaction, and decreased expression levels of NLRP3 and IL-1β proteins, compared with the model group. It also reduced colonic expression of NF-κB p65 protein, together with the increased level of IκB α protein and weaker expression levels of ubiquitin and RNF183 proteins and mRNAs and stronger expression of miR7. There were no significant differences between the moxa-stick moxibustion group and the control group except the expressions of RNF183 protein and mRNA and miR7. Conclusion. Moxibustion encourages the recovery of colon injury probably by regulating the expression of NLRP3 protein in ulcerative colitis rats through miR7/RNF183/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Study on the Dose-effect Relationship of Moxa Burning Fumigation in Air Disinfection in Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinics

Objective — It’s to study the dose-effect relationship of moxa produced by Gansu Baicao Group in the air disinfection in traditional Chinese medicine clinics. Method — Use moxa sticks burning fumigation to disinfect indoor air in the clinics of traditional Chinese medicine experts; use the natural sedimentation method to detect the bacterial content in the air; compare the sterilization effects of 0.5, 1 and 1.5 moxa sticks 0 h, 1 h and 2 h after air disinfection. Results — In the 54m3 TCM clinic, there was no significant difference in the sterilization rate of air bacteria 0h, 1h, and 2h after using 1 moxa stick and 1.5 moxa sticks respectively for fumigation and disinfection (P>0.05). There was a significant difference in the sterilization rate of air bacteria between 1 moxa stick group and 0.5 moxa stick group 0 h after air disinfection (P < 0. 05). There was a significant difference in the sterilization rate of air bacteria between 0 hour and 1 hour after burning fumigation for air disinfection in 0.5 moxa group (P < 0. 05). Conclusion — The best dose of moxa burning fumigation for air disinfection in 54m3 Chinese medicine clinic is 0.5 stick; the best time for air disinfection is 1h after disinfection.

Moxibustion at CV4 alleviates atherosclerotic lesions through activation of the LXRα/ABCA1 pathway in apolipoprotein-E-deficient mice

Objectives: To investigate the anti-atherogenic effect of moxibustion and whether it is mediated through the reverse cholesterol transport process. Methods: 8-week-old male apolipoprotein E deficient (ApoE−/− knockout) mice were randomly divided into two groups (n=10 per group): atherosclerosis (AS) and AS plus moxibustion (AS+M). C57BL/6J mice of the same background (n=10) were selected as controls. Mice in the AS+M group received indirect moxibustion with an ignited moxa stick held over CV4. Mice of the AS and control groups were restrained in the same holder with an unlit moxa stick held over CV4. All treatments were performed for 20 min per day, 6 days per week for 12 weeks. After the treatment, the mice were euthanased and their serum lipids were measured. The aortic roots and thoracic aortas were collected for haematoxylin and eosin and red oil O staining, respectively, to analyse the atherosclerotic lesions. Expression of adenosine triphosphate binding cassette (ABCA)A1/G1 and liver X receptor α (LXRα) in the thoracic aorta were examined with Western blotting. Results: The moxibustion-treated (AS+M) mice showed a significantly lower plaque area percentage in the aortic root and thoracic aorta, and higher expression of LXRα and ABCA1 in the thoracic aorta compared with the AS mice. No significant differences were found in average lipid area percentage in the thoracic aorta, or ABCG1 expression in the thoracic aorta, between mice in the AS+M and AS groups. Conclusion: Moxibustion treatment at CV4 suppressed the progression of atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE−/− mice. The anti-atherogenic effect of moxibustion may be achieved by: (1) regulation of lipid metabolism, and thus prevention of lipid accumulation; and (2) upregulation of LXRα- and ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux in the lesion area.

The Effect of Ash Cleaning Cycles on Thermal Characteristics of Moxibustion Therapy

Objective: In clinical treatment, ash cleaning is an effective way to enhance the thermal efficiency of moxibustion. Understanding the thermal characteristics of moxibustion therapy with ash cleaning is necessary to improve its clinical efficiency. Method: Temperature distributions of burning moxa sticks were measured with an infrared camera. The moxa burning duration was set at 20min with different ash cleaning cycles (3min, 4min, 5min and no ash cleaning). A moxa stick burning model with ash cleaning was built to analyze the detailed burning discipline and compared with experimental results. In addition, temperature distributions of in-vitro tissue during moxibustion with different ash cleaning cycles were obtained using thermocouples and infrared camera. Results: Ash cleaning has effectively extended the high-temperature areas of moxa sticks and accelerated the burning velocity. Shorter ash cleaning cycle led to higher average temperature of moxa sticks. The simulated results agreed well with experimental data, which indicates that the moxa stick burning model with ash cleaning is reliable to reveal the burning discipline of moxa sticks. For in-vitro tissue, ash cleaning induced obvious temperature rise at tissue surface and slight rise in deep tissue. Compared with 3 min and 5 min, the ash cleaning cycle of 4 min is the recommended value.

Analysis of the Spectral Characteristics of Pure Moxa Stick Burning by Hyperspectral Imaging and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

The objective of this study was to investigate the spectra characteristics (SC) at wavelengths of 400~1000 nm and 2.5~15.5 μm of pure moxa stick (MS) during its 25-minute burning process using new spectral imaging techniques. Spectral images were collected for the burning pure MS at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 min using hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for the first time. The results showed that, at wavelengths of 400~1000 nm, the spectral range of the cross section of MS burning was 750~980 nm; the peak position was 860 nm. At wavelengths of 2.5~15.5 μm, the spectral range of the cross section of MS burning was 3.0~4.0 μm; the peak position was approximately 3.5 μm. The radiation spectra of MS burning include litter red and amount of infrared (but mainly near infrared) wavelengths. The temperature, blood perfusion, and oxygen saturation increase of Shenshu (BL23) after moxibustion radiation were observed too. According to mechanism of photobiological effects and moxibustion biological effects, it was inferred that moxibustion effects should be linked with moxibustion SC. This study provided new data and means for physical properties of moxibustion research.

Effects of Shenque Moxibustion on Behavioral Changes and Brain Oxidative State in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice

Purpose. To determine whether moxibustion influences the learning and memory behavior of ApoE−/− male mice, and investigate the mechanism of moxibustion on the alteration of oxidized proteins (glial fibrillary acidic protein,β-amyloid) in hippocampus.Methods. Thirty-three ApoE−/− mice were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=11/group): moxibustion, sham moxibustion, and no treatment control. Wild-type C57BL/6 micen=13were used for normal control. Moxibustion was performed with Shenque (RN8) moxibustion for 20 minutes per day, 6 days/week for 12 weeks. In sham control, the procedure was similar except burning of the moxa stick. Behavioral tests (step-down test and Morris water maze task) were conducted in the 13th week. The mice were then sacrificed and the tissues were harvested for immune-histochemical staining.Results. In the step-down test, the moxibustion group had shorter reaction time in training record and committed less mistakes compared to sham control. In immune-histochemical study, the moxibustion group expressed lower level of GFAP and less aggregation ofβ-amyloid in the hippocampus than the sham control.Conclusion. Our findings suggest that moxibustion may enhance learning capability of ApoE−/− mice. The mechanism may be via inhibiting oxidized proteins (GFAP andβ-amyloid) in astrocytes.