艾灸预处理对应激性溃疡大鼠胃黏膜HSP70蛋白及mRNA表达的影响

Effect of moxibustion pretreatment on the contents of PGE2 and EGF in gastric mucosal injury in rats after nucleus of the solitary tract or spinal cord damage

AIM: To observe the effect of moxibustion pretreatment on the contents of prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in acute gastric mucosal injury in rats after nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) or spinal cord damage, and to discuss the relationship between the central nervous system and endogenous protective effect of moxibustion.

METHODS: Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: a blank group, a model group, a moxibustion group, a NTS damage group, and a spinal cord damage group. After spinal cord damage and NTS damage were induced in groups D and E, respectively, moxibustion at Zusanli point (ST36) was applied in groups C, D and E. After that, the rats were intragastrically given absolute ethanol to induce acute gastric mucosal injury. The contents of PGE₂ and EGF in the gastric mucosa were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS: Moxibustion pretreatment increased the contents of PGE₂ and EGF in the gastric mucosa (338.82 μg/L ± 19.87 μg/L vs 279.52 μg/L ± 16.53 μg/L, P < 0.01; 4037.12 μg/L ± 300.20 μg/L vs 2923.73 μg/L ± 251.23 μg/L, P < 0.05). NTS or spinal cord damage reduced the contents of PGE₂ and EGF compared to the moxibustion group, in which the NTS and spinal cord were normal (298.65 μg/L ± 12.89 μg/L, 317.56 μg/L ± 16.60 μg/L vs 338.82 μg/L ± 19.87 μg/L; 3176.21 μg/L ± 242.35 μg/L, 3337.43 μg/L ± 249.86 μg/L vs 4037.12 μg/L ± 300.20 μg/L, all P < 0.01). The content of PGE₂ in the NTS damage group was lower than that in the spinal cord damage group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: NTS or spinal cord damage reduces the protective effect of moxibustion pretreatment at Zusanli point (ST36) on the gastric mucosa, suggesting that both the NTS and spinal cord are involved in the protective effect of moxibustion on the gastric mucosa.

Plasma of individuals undergoing moxibustion has protective effects against alcohol-induced injury to human gastric epithelial cells in vitro

AIM: To investigate whether plasma of individuals undergoing moxibustion has protective effects against ethanol-induced injury to human gastric epithelial cells (GES-1).

METHODS: Isolated GES-1 cells were divided into four groups: control group, ethanol injury group, test plasma group (plasma from individuals undergoing moxibustion at specific points), and control plasma group (plasma from individuals undergoing moxibustion at non-specific points). Before and after moxibustion at Zusanli, Zhongwan, Guanyuan or non-specific points, blood plasma was prepared. Cells of the ethanol injury group, test plasma group, and control plasma group were treated with 8% ethanol to induce cell injury. After injured cells were incubated with plasma, cell growth was measured by MTT assay; the contents of LDH, SOD and MDA in culture supernatants were determined by colorimetric assay; and cell cycle progression and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: Compared with the control group, A₄₉₀ value significantly decreased (P < 0.01) and the reduced rate of cell growth increased in the ethanol injury group. Compared with the ethanol injury group, both A₄₉₀ value (P < 0.01) and the reduced rate of cell growth decreased significantly in the test plasma group. The reduced rate of cell growth was significantly higher in the control plasma group than in the test plasma group (26.52% vs 22.06%). Compared with the control group, the contents of LDH, MDA and SOD increased in the ethanol injury group (all P < 0.01 or 0.05). Compared with the ethanol injury group, an increase in SOD content (P < 0.01) and a decrease in LDH and MDA contents (both P < 0.01) were noted in the test plasma group. SOD content decreased (34.11 kU/L ± 4.14 kU/L vs 38.73 kU/L ± 4.34 kU/L, P < 0.05) and LDH and MDA levels increased (9.26 U/L ± 1.62 U/L vs 7.38 U/L ± 1.28 U/L; 3.91 μmoL/L ± 0.11 μmoL/L vs 3.75 μmoL/L ± 0.11 μmoL/L, both P < 0.05) in the control plasma group compared with the test plasma group. No significant difference was noted in cell cycle progression between the two plasma treatment groups (all P > 0.05) though the apoptosis rate was higher in the control plasma group than in the test plasma group (1.56% ± 0.19% vs 1.24% ± 0.08%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Plasma of individuals undergoing moxibustion at Zusanli, Zhongwan and Guanyuan has protective effects against alcohol-induced injury to human gastric epithelial cells.

Effect of moxibustion-induced up-regulation of HSP70 expression on mitochondrial signal transduction pathway during gastric mucosal cell apoptosis in rats

AIM: To explore the mechanism of pre-moxibustion inhibiting cell apoptosis and protecting gastric mucosal damage.

METHODS: Thirty-two healthy rats were randomly and averagely assigned into 4 groups, namely control group (group A), model group (group B), moxibustion groups (group C and D, pre-moxibustion at acupoints and non-acupoints respectively for 8 d). The models of acute gastric mucosal damage were established by gastric injection of absolute ethyl alcohol in all the rats except those in group A. Western blot was used to detect the expression of cytochrome C (Cyt-C) while immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), apoptosis protease activator protein-1 (Apaf-1), Caspase-9 and Caspase-3 as well as cell apoptosis in gastric mucosa.

RESULTS: As compared with those in group A, the expression of HSP70, cell apoptosis index (AI), Cyt-C in cytoplasm, Apaf-1, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3 contents were significantly increased in group B (2.93 ± 0.29 vs 2.51 ± 0.22; 3.52 ± 0.77 vs 2.25 ± 0.53; 1.63 ± 0.36 vs 0.75 ± 0.23; 4.32 ± 0.67 vs 3.44 ± 0.86; 4.05 ± 1.01 vs 3.76 ± 0.82; 3.55 ± 0.86 vs 2.35 ± 0.71; P < 0.01 or 0.05). In comparison with those in group B, the expression of HSP70 (3.93 ± 0.36) was significantly increased (P < 0.01), but the AI (1.53 ± 0.45), Cyt-C in cytoplasm (0.97 ± 0.26), Apaf-1 (2.24 ± 0.49), Caspase-9 (2.43 ± 0.73), and Caspase-3 (1.97 ± 0.61) contents were significantly decreased in group C (all P < 0.01). In compared with those in group C, the expression of HSP70 (3.35 ± 0.34) was significantly decreased (P < 0.01), but the AI (3.06 ± 0.81), Cyt-C in cytoplasm (1.45 ± 0.29), Apaf-1 (3.16 ± 0.66), Caspase-9 (3.33 ± 0.76), and Caspase-3 (2.98 ± 0.86) contents were significantly increased in group D (P < 0.01 or 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Moxibustion may up-regulate the expression of HSP70 in gastric mucosa, and then act on the targets associated with mitochondrial signal transduction pathway to inhibit gastric mucosal cell apoptosis and protect gastric mucosa. And this protective effect is acupoint-specific to some extent.