查看更多>>摘要: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 Bilidobacterium 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 vS1.691 ± 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.