To observe the effect of moxibustion on mRNA expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 (STAT 1), suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) in synovium of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rats, and to investigate its mechanism for relieving RA.
40 Wistar rats were equally and randomly divided into control, model, moxibustion, acupuncture and infrared groups (n = 8 in each group). RA model was developed by putting rats in windy, cold and damp room and injection of Freund's complete adjuvant. Bilateral "Shenshu" (BL 23) were stimulated by the respective means for 20 min in duration, once every other day, ten times in total. The swelling degree of voix pedis (perimeter) of rats was measured. The contents of serum interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-2(IL-2) were detected by radioimmunoassay, and expression of STAT 1, SOCS mRNA in synovium were assessed by RT-PCR.
Rats in model group had acute and severe swelling of voix pedis, together with the increase of serum IL-1 content and decrease of IL-2 content, and down-regulation of mRNA expression of both STAT 1 and SOCS in synovium(all P<0. 01). All three modalities of treatment alleviated the swelling and reversed the relevant changes(P<0. 05, P<0. 01) , however, moxibustion produced greater effects than acupuncture or infrared in elevating IL-2 content and up-regulating mRNA expression of both STAT 1 and SOCS.
Moxibustion achieves the effects of anti-inflammation and joint swelling reduction of RA via decrease of IL-1, increase of IL-2 in serum and up-regulation of STAT 1, SOCS mRNA expression in synovium.