Effects of grain-sized moxibustion on Th1/Th2 balance and transcription factors T-bet and GATA3 in immunosuppressed mice induced by cyclophosphamide
Objective To observe the effects of grain-sized moxibustion on Th1 cell/Th2 cell(Th1/Th2)balance and transcription factors T-box transcription factor(T-bet)and GATA binding protein 3(GATA3)in immunosuppressive mice induced by chemotherapy.Methods According to the random number table method,32 SPF male CD-1(ICR)mice were randomly divided into the normal group,model group,levamisole hydrochloride group,and grain-sized moxibustion group,with eight mice per group.Except for the normal group,the immunosuppressive model was established by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide(80 mg/kg,once daily for three consecutive days).Mice in the levamisole hydrochloride group were given levamisole hydrochloride solution(10 mg/kg)by gavage.Mice in the grain-sized moxibustion group was given grain-sized moxibustion at"Guanyuan"(CV4),bilateral"Zusanli"(ST36),and bilateral"Sanyinjiao"(SP6),with three Zhuang at each acupoint for approximately 30 s each.The intervention was administered once daily for seven consecutive days.The general condition of mice was observed.The spleen mass and spleen index were detected.The pathological changes of spleen tissue were observed by HE staining.The protein and mRNA expressions of T-bet,GATA3,interferon-γ(IFN-γ),and interleukin(IL)-4 in spleen tissue of mice were detected by Western blotting and real-time PCR.The contents of IFN-γ,IL-2,and IL-4 in serum of mice were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results Compared with the normal group,the mice in the model group were slow in response,unstable in gait;the spleen weight and spleen index were increased(P<0.05);the structure of spleen tissue was disordered,the mRNA and protein expressions of T-bet and IFN-γ in spleen tissue were decreased,and the mRNA and protein expressions of GATA3 and IL-4 were increased(P<0.05);the contents of IFN-γ and IL-2 in serum were decreased,and the content of IL-4 was increased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the general condition of mice in the levamisole hydrochloride group and the grain-sized moxibustion group was improved,the structure of spleen tissue was improved,the mRNA and protein expressions of T-bet and IFN-γ in spleen tissue were decreased,and the mRNA and protein expressions of GATA3 and IL-4 were increased(P<0.05);the contents of IFN-γ and IL-2 in serum were decreased,and the content of IL-4 was increased(P<0.05).Conclusion Grain-sized moxibustion can significantly improve the immunosuppressive symptoms induced by chemotherapy.The mechanism may be through regulating the expressions of transcription factors T-bet and GATA3,regulating Th1/Th2 balance,and thus restoring the immune balance.
grain-sized moxibustioncyclophosphamideimmunosuppressionTh1 cell/Th2 cell balanceT-box transcription factorGATA binding protein 3mice