Regulation Of Moxibustion On HIF-VEGF Pathways Of Synovial Cells In Rheu-matoid Arthritis Rabbits

Objective:To observe the effect of moxibustion on Hypoxia-Inducible Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (HIF-VEGF) Pathway of synovial cells in rheumatoid arthritis(RA) rabbits for revealing the underlying mechanism of moxibus-tion in the treatment of RA.Methods:A total of 30 rabbits(Japanese Big-ear White species), male and female each half.2.5±0.25kg weight, were randomly divided into blank control group (hereinafter referred to as the "blank"), RA model group (hereinafter referred to as the "model"), moxibustion treatment group (hereinafter referred to as the "moxibustion")with 10 cases in each. RA model and moxibustion groups were established by injection of Freund'sCom-plete Adjuvant(FCA 0.5mL/kg) into the animal's bilateral joint cavities. Moxibustion was applied to bilateral "Shenshu(BL23)""Zusanli i(ST36)",5 cones every time, once daily(except Sundays), 3 weeks altogether. The "blank" and "model" do not make any treatment, the circumference of the knee joint was measured on the first day, seventh days, fourteenth days, twenty-firsth days, and twenty-eighth days.After treatment 21 days, synovial was obtained and dyed HE. The content of IL-6, IL-1?, TNF-?? in the synovial fuild were detected with ELISA.The protein and mRNA expression levels of HIF-1?, VEGF were detected by RT-PCR.Results:1:Compared with" blank", the circumference.of the knee joint.of "Model " and "moxibustion" increased significately (P<0.01), while compared with" model", the circumference.of the knee joint.of "moxibustion" were obviously decreased (P <0.01) after moxibustion treatment.2:Compared with"blank", the synovial membrane pathology grading in "model" increased significantly, while compared with "model", those in "moxibustion" decreased considerably (P<0.05, P< 0.01).3:Compared with "blank", the IL-6, IL-1?, TNF-?expression was obviously enhanced. (P<0.01) while compared with "model", those in " moxibustion" decreased considerably(P<0.05).4:Compared with "blank", the HIF-1? and VEGF protein expression was obviously enhanced (P?0.01). while compared with "model", those in "moxibustion" decreased considerably(P<0.05,).Conclusion:1. Moxibustion "Shenshu" and "Zusanli" can significantly reduce the rabbit knee joint swelling, reduce rabbit knee circumference, has obvious anti-inflammatory effect;2. Moxibustion can decrease the content of cytokine IL-6, IL-1? and TNF-?, which indicates that moxibustion has anti-inflammatory effect on RA.3. IL-6, IL-1? and TNF-?are likely to play an important role in the HIF-1?/VEGF pathway.4. Moxibustion can reduce the HIF-1? and VEGF protein level, stop the angiogenesis, pannus formation, thus improving synovial inflammation.