The Impact Of Moxibustion On Experimental Ra Synovial Cell Function

Objective: To observe the effect of moxibusting Shenshu points on the extemaliz ation function of synoviocyte in the rheumatoid arthritis rabbits, and investigate t he mechan-ism of treating RA with moxibustion.Methods: 30 healthy Japanese rabbits were randomly individed into control grou p, RA model group, moxibutstion group. RA animal models were produced by F reund's Complete Adjuvant (FCA). After 7 days, the rabbits of moxibutsion grou p were moxibusted double shenshu points (BL23) for 21 days consistently. Pain threshold, the circumfe-rence of knee joints and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a),IL -1,ICAM-1,matrix metallopro-teinase (MMP-3) tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinas e (TIMP-1) via the method of tis-sue inhibitor of metalloproteinase, in order to get the effect on the externalization fun-ction after treated with moxibustion.Results: (1)The pain threshold of RA model group is lower than that of control group, (P<0.01); The pain threshold of moxibustion group is higher than that of RA model group, (P<0.01); (2) Knee joint swelling of RA model group is mor e sever than that of control group(P<0.01); Knee joint swelling of moxibustion g roup is more slightly than that of RA model group. (P<0.01); (3) The content of TNF-a, IL-1, ICAM-1 of RA model group is more than that of control group, (P<0.01 ,P< 0.05) while the cont-ent of TNF-a, IL-1 , ICAM-1 of moxibustion g roup is less than that of RA model gr-oup. (P<0.01,P< 0.05); (4) The content of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 of RA model group is more than that of control group, t he content of MMP-3 of moxibustion group is less than that of RA model gro up, but it is no difference (P > 0.05). The content of TIMP-1 moxibustion group is less than that of RA model group (P <0.05).Conclusions: Moxibusting double BL23 points of experimental RA rabbits is abl e to relieve swelling and pain of the knee joints. Moxibustion is able to adjust the external-ization function of synoviocyte in the rheumatoid arthritis rabbits be nignly, including TNF-a, IL-1, ICAM-1, MMP-3 and TIMP-1.