Efficacy of Moxa-burning heat stimulating Zusanli (ST36) and Shenshu (BL23) on expressions of macrophage migration inhibitory factor and macrophage apoptosis in rabbits with adjuvant-induced arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of moxa-burning heat stimulating acupoints Zusanli (ST36) and Shenshu (BL23) on macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and its related molecules which can provide scientific experimental basis for the clinical application of moxibustion treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

Thirty rabbits were randomly assigned to control group, RA model (established by injecting Freund's Complete Adjuvant) group (RA group) and RA model with moxibustion group [Moxa group, Zusanli (ST36) and Shenshu (BL23), 5 moxa pillars/day, 6 d × 3]. The expressions of MIF mRNA were evaluated with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; the apoptosis rates of macrophages were detected by erminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dTUP nick end labeling; the expressions of related signal molecules were detected with immunohistochemical S-P method and the levels of IL-2 were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

The expressions of MIF mRNA, extracellular regulated protein kinases 2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-κ-gene binding p65 in synovial tissue of RA group were significantly increased when compared with control group, which were lower remarkably in moxa group than those in RA group. The apoptosis rates of macrophages in RA group were significantly down-regulated as compared with the control group, which were up-regulated in moxa group compared with the RA group. The levels of IL-2 in synovial fluid from the RA group were elevated significantly as compared with that from control group, but those of the moxa group were reduced when compared with those from RA group.

CONCLUSIONS

Moxibustion may simultaneously regulate the expressions of MIF and its related signaling pathways molecules, the apoptosis rate of macrophages in synovial tissue, as well as the level of inflammatory factors in synovial fluid. The results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of moxibustion on RA may be related to inhibit the expression of MIF in synovial tissue, the molecules of some related signaling pathways and promote the apoptosis of macrophage.

Study on the Pharmacological Character of an Insulin-Mimetic Small Molecular Compound of Vanadyl Trehalose

To investigate the effect of vanadyl trehalose (VT) on oxidative stress and reduced glutathione/glutathione-S-transferase (GSH/GSTs) pathway gene expression in mouse gastrointestinal tract, as well as the protective effects of vitamin C (VC) and reduced glutathione (GSH). Thirty male Kunming mice were randomly divided into five groups: control group (group A), VT group (group B), VC + VT group (group C), GSH + VT group (group D) and VC + GSH + VT group (group E). The content of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and the expressions of glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), glutathione synthetase (GSS), regulated through glutathione reductase (GSR) and glutathione-S-transferase pi (GSTpi) in stomach and duodenum in vanadyl trehalose treated group were lower than those in group A (P<0.05). The C, D, E group can significantly improve the above indicators, but those only in the stomach in E group reached the level of the control group. Vanadyl trehalose (VT) was able to cause oxidative stress damage to the gastrointestinal tract of mice, which affects GSH content and GSH-Px activity and interferes with the normal expression of GSH/GSTs pathway. Exogenous vitamin C, reduced glutathione and the combination of the two could play a specific role in antioxidant protection and reduce the toxicity of vanadyl trehalose.

Epidemiological and molecular analysis of a waterborne outbreak of norovirus GII.4

Contaminated water is one of the main sources of norovirus (NoV) gastroenteritis outbreaks globally. Waterborne NoV outbreaks are infrequently attributed to GII.4 NoV. In September 2009, a NoV outbreak affected a small school in Guangdong Province, China. Epidemiological investigations indicated that household use water, supplied by a well, was the probable source (relative risk 1·9). NoV nucleic acid material in concentrated well-water samples was detected using real-time RT-PCR. Nucleotide sequences of NoV extracted from diarrhoea and well-water specimens were identical and had the greatest sequence identity to corresponding sequences from the epidemic strain GII.4-2006b. Our report documents the first laboratory-confirmed waterborne outbreak caused by GII.4 NoV genotype in China. Our investigations indicate that well water, intended exclusively for household use but not for consumption, caused this outbreak. The results of this report serve as a reminder that private well water intended for household use should be tested for NoV.