Original Article
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 14, 2012; 18(46): 6819-6828
Published online Dec 14, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i46.6819
Moxibustion inhibits interleukin-12 and tumor necrosis factor alpha and modulates intestinal flora in rat with ulcerative colitis
Xiao-Mei Wang, Yuan Lu, Lu-Yi Wu, Shu-Guang Yu, Bai-Xiao Zhao, Hong-Yi Hu, Huan-Gan Wu, Chun-Hui Bao, Hui-Rong Liu, Jin-Hai Wang, Yi Yao, Xue-Gui Hua, Hui-Ying Guo, Li-Rong Shen
Xiao-Mei Wang, Huan-Gan Wu, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China
Yuan Lu, Lu-Yi Wu, Chun-Hui Bao, Hui-Rong Liu, Jin-Hai Wang, Yi Yao, Xue-Gui Hua, Hui-Ying Guo, Li-Rong Shen, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture- Moxibustion and Immunological Effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
Shu-Guang Yu, Laboratory of Experimental Acupuncture of College of Acumox and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, Sichuan Province, China
Bai-Xiao Zhao, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
Hong-Yi Hu, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
Author contributions: Wang XM and Wu HG designed the research; Lu Y, Wu LY, Bao CH, Wang JH and Wang XM performed experiments; Yu SG, Wang JH, Yao Y and Wu LY analyzed the data; Wang XM, Liu HR, Hu HY, Hua XG, Guo HY and Shen LR wrote the manuscript; Hu HY, Yu SG and Zhao BX revised the manuscript; Wu HG supervised the research and edited the manuscript.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81001549; National Basic Research Program of China (973 program), No. 2009CB522900; Shanghai Health System of Outstanding Young Talent Cultivation Program, No. XYQ2011068; Shanghai Rising-Star Program, No. 10QA1406100
Correspondence to: Huan-Gan Wu, Professor, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 650 South Wanping Road, Xu Hui District, Shanghai 200030, China. wuhuangan@126.com
Telephone: +86-21-64644238 Fax: +86-21-64644238
Received: September 14, 2012
Revised: November 6, 2012
Accepted: November 11, 2012
Published online: December 14, 2012
Processing time: 89 Days and 17.2 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effect of moxibustion on intestinal flora and release of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) from the colon in rat with ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS: A rat model of UC was established by local stimulation of the intestine with supernatant from colonic contents harvested from human UC patients. A total of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the following groups: normal (sham), model (UC), herb-partition moxibustion (HPM-treated), and positive control sulfasalazine (SA-treated). Rats treated with HPM received HPM at acupuncture points ST25 and RN6, once a day for 15 min, for a total of 8 d. Rats in the SA group were perfused with SA twice a day for 8 d. The colonic histopathology was observed by hematoxylin-eosin. The levels of intestinal flora, including Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Bacteroides fragilis (B. fragilis), were tested by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction to detect bacterial 16S rRNA/DNA in order to determine DNA copy numbers of each specific species. Immunohistochemical assays were used to observe the expression of TNF-α and IL-12 in the rat colons.

RESULTS: HPM treatment inhibited immunopathology in colonic tissues of UC rats; the general morphological score and the immunopathological score were significantly decreased in the HPM and SA groups compared with the model group [3.5 (2.0-4.0), 3.0 (1.5-3.5) vs 6.0 (5.5-7.0), P < 0.05 for the general morphological score, and 3.00 (2.00-3.50), 3.00 (2.50-3.50) vs 5.00 (4.50-5.50), P < 0.01 for the immunopathological score]. As measured by DNA copy number, we found that Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, which are associated with a healthy colon, were significantly higher in the HPM and SA groups than in the model group (1.395 ± 1.339, 1.461 ± 1.152 vs 0.045 ± 0.036, P < 0.01 for Bifidobacterium, and 0.395 ± 0.325, 0.851 ± 0.651 vs 0.0015 ± 0.0014, P < 0.01 for Lactobacillus). On the other hand, E. coli and B. fragilis, which are associated with an inflamed colon, were significantly lower in the HPM and SA groups than in the model group (0.244 ± 0.107, 0.628 ± 0.257 vs 1.691 ± 0.683, P < 0.01 for E. coli, and 0.351 ± 0.181, 0.416 ± 0.329 vs 1.285 ± 1.039, P < 0.01 for B. fragilis). The expression of TNF-α and IL-12 was decreased after HPM and SA treatment as compared to UC model alone (4970.81 ± 959.78, 6635.45 ± 1135.16 vs 12333.81 ± 680.79, P < 0.01 for TNF-α, and 5528.75 ± 1245.72, 7477.38 ± 1259.16 vs 12550.29 ± 1973.30, P < 0.01 for IL-12).

CONCLUSION: HPM treatment can regulate intestinal flora and inhibit the expression of TNF-α and IL-12 in the colon tissues of UC rats, indicating that HPM can improve colonic immune response.

Keywords: Ulcerative colitis; Herb-partition moxibustion; Intestinal flora; Immune regulation