| Rheumatoid arthritis(RA)is a kind of unknown etiology of chronic autoimmune diseases.This disease has a progressive development,and characterized by recurrent symmertrical synovitis.The early stage has the joint swelling,pain and dysfunction,the late stage has the skeletal muscle atrophy,joint stiffness and deformation.It has a serious impact on the quality of patient's life.The pathogenesis of RA is still unclear,at present,the pathogenesis of RA is associated with genetic predisposition,immune disorders and environmental factors.The relationship between Th17/Treg has been become a hot spot in recent years.Th17 and Treg play a role in promoting and inhibiting inflammation,they are antagonistic to each other in differentiation and function.Under physiological conditions,Th17 and Treg keep dynamic balance and play an important role in immune system.It has been found that the imbalance between Th17/Treg cells leads to synovial inflammation and destruction of articular cartilage and bone.Western medicine of RA has a long treatment cycle and adverse reaction.Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine external treatment method,it can warm the channel and expelling cold,dredging meridian,keep patients away from diseases and no toxic side effects.It has been widely recognized,achieved good results in clinical practice.The experiment based on collagen induced arthritis(CIA)model rat as the research object.After modeling,the rats were treated with Moxibustion.By observing and measuring the weight of rats,the diameter of the left ankle joint,arthritis index,left foot tarsal imaging X-ray morphology,left ankle joint tectology,the content of serum interleukin-17(IL-17)and tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-a),to explore the effects of moxibustion on rheumatoid arthritis disease.[Objective]In this experiment,Th17/Treg balance as the breakthrough point,moxibustion as the intervention,IL-17 and TNF-alpha as the main observation index,to explore the mechanism of moxibustion treatment for RA from cytokine levels and to provide experimental data for the further study on the mechanism of anti-inflammation of moxibustion.[Methods]A total of 40 male wistar rats were randomized select 8 rats to normal control group,the others were modeled.The primary immunity emulsion was mixed with Type II chicken collagen and complete freund's adjuvant.Then isometric injected 0.3mL emulsion per rat(including 0.3mg collagen)into the left foot,tail root and back of the rats.After the original immune 7 days,using the same method to induce the secondary immunity.The emulsion of this round made of Type ? chicken collagen and incomplete Freund's adjuvant.Total period of two modeling times is 21 days,then randomized the successful 24 RA rats into model group,medication group and moxibustion group(n=8 in each group).Suspended moxibustion at"Zusanli"(ST36)and "Kunlun"(BL60)above 10mm distance in the moxibustion group,20 min for each point,40 min total,one times a day,left and right lower limbs alternately executed for 10 days.Intragastric administration with Methotrexate(0.1 mg/100g)in the drug group one times for 5 days.Observed and measured the left ankle joint,the weight and the arthritis index of all the rats in 4 groups before and after the modeling and intervention,observed and measured the left foot tarsal imaging X-ray morphology,left ankle joint tectology and determined the levels of IL-17 and TNF-a in serum by ELISA after the intervention.[Results](1)Compared with the control group,There are following results can be seen in the model group,the ankle diameter and the content of serum IL-17 and TNF-a were increased(P<0.05),the weight were decreased(P<0.05),and the tarsus soft tissue swelling,joint space narrowing,bone destruction from X-ray of the tarsal.Narrowing of the joint space and inflammatory cell infiltration from the pathological section of left ankle joint.(2)Compared with the model groupThe numerical value of ankle diameter,the arthritis index,the serum IL-17 and TNF-a contents decreased(P<0.05),the weight increased(P<0.05),the tarsus soft tissue swelling turn better and the bone deformity improved,the inflammatory cell infiltration decreased and the cartilage was smooth both in medication group and moxibustion group.(3)Compared with the medication group and moxibustion group,there is no significant difference(P>0.05).[Conclusion]Moxibustion can effectively improve the general situation of the CIA model rats,increased the weight,reduced the swelling of the joints of the ankle,reduced the arthritis index score,Improved the image of X-ray and the changed of histomorphology.It has a similar effect on RA rats compared with the positive drugs,one of the mechanisms may be that moxibustion can regulate the balance of Thl7/Treg and inhibited the inflammatory reaction by reducing the content of IL-17 and TNF-a in the serum of RA rats,which can relieve the symptoms of RA. |
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