Role and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy on pain relief through NOX-ROS-NLRP3 pathway in CCI rats models

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy on pain relief in sciatica rats and to explore the mechanism of its anti-inflammatory effect.

METHODS

SPF grade 4-6-week-old Kunming rats were randomly divided into 5 groups including a blank group, sham-operated group, model group, acupuncture, and moxibustion (AnM) group, and positive group. A total of 10 rats were included in each group. The model group, the AnM group, and the positive group were prepared by ligating the left sciatic nerve. AnM group was used for acupuncture and moxibustion therapy intervention, and the positive group was rendered to quick-acting sciatica pills once a day for 7 days (3 courses of treatment). The blank group, sham-operated group, and model group were not treated. The changes in thermal and mechanical pain thresholds were observed before and after the operation, and the morphological changes of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in the lumbosacral region of the rats in each group were observed by HE staining after the courses of treatment finished. The contents of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α were measured by ELISA and the expressions of NOX1, NOX2, NOX4, and NLRP3 genes were detected by RT-qPCR while the protein expressions of NOX1, NOX2, NOX4 and NLRP3 were analyzed by Western blotting.

RESULTS

The AnM and positive group showed a significant increase in thermal and mechanical pain thresholds after treatment, while there was no significant change in the model group. As compared to the control group, the contents of IL- 1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α, as well as the relative expressions of NOX1, NOX2, NOX4, and NLRP3 genes were significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). As compared to the model group, the contents of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α, as well as the relative expressions of NOX1, NOX2, NOX4, and NLRP3 genes significantly decreased in the AnM and positive groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The pathological changes of inflammatory infiltration of tissue cells in the dorsal horn of the lumbosacral spinal cord were slowed in the AnM group.

CONCLUSION

Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy have a positive effect on pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects in CCI sciatica rats, which may point to the regulation of NOX1, NOX2, NOX4, and NLRP3 expressions, and inhibition of ROS.

Growth of Breast Cancer Cells Inhibited by Bromelains Extracted from the Different Tissues of Pineapple

Breast cancer is a common disease diagnosed in women. The therapies for breast cancer often have side effects and the most effective drugs are highly toxic. Finding safe alternative medicines is an important goal in the search for a cure for breast cancer. Bromelains are a mixture of cysteine proteases extracted from pineapple. Pineapple is considered to be a safe food. In this paper, the breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 were co-cultured with bromelains extracted from different tissues of the pinapple. Results showed that the growth of MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells can be inhibited by bromelains. The bromelains for this study were extracted from the fruit pulp, peel, fruit stalk, young stem, and mature stem. Bromelains extracted from the fruit stalk were found to be the most effective for inhibiting the growth of breast cancer cells. MCF7 was more sensitive to bromelains than MDA-MB-231. After the breast cancer cells were co-cultured with the bromelain, the transcripts of p53 and Bax increased significantly. The transcriptional expressions of Cox-2 and Bcl-2 were down-regulated. More proteins of p53 and Bax were produced. The translational expressions of Cox-2 and Bcl-2 were both down-regulated. Bromelains inhibited the growth of BC cells through the up-regulating of p53, Bax, and by decreasing the expressions of Cox-2 and Bcl-2. The activity of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) might be blocked. Final effects might be performed by regulating the functions of the protein kinase.