中文摘要：

目的：观察持续光照下艾灸对实验性类风湿性关节炎（Rheumatoidarthritis，RA）大鼠足容积、血清褪黑激素、血浆IL-1β、IL-4含量的影响，探讨褪黑激素在艾灸抗炎效应中的地位和作用。方法：以佐剂性关节炎（AA）作为RA疾病模型，艾灸实验性RA大鼠“肾俞”、“足三里”两穴，采用24h光照作为干预研究手段，观测大鼠足容积，采用ELISA双抗夹心法检测血清MT和血浆IL-1β、IL-4含量。结果：大鼠右后足容积，模型组显著高于空白组（P〈0．01），艾灸组显著低于模型组（P〈0．01），24h光照＋艾灸组与艾灸组相比无显著性差异。大鼠血清MT水平，模型组显著高于空白组（P〈0．05），艾灸组显著低于模型组（P〈0．05），24h光照＋艾灸组显著低于艾灸组（P〈0．01）；血浆IL-1β含量，模型组显著高于空白组（P〈0．05），艾灸组显著低于模型组（P〈0．05），24h光照＋艾灸组与艾灸组无显著性差异；大鼠血浆IL-4含量，模型组略高于空白组但两组间无显著性差异，艾灸组显著高于模型组（P〈0．05），24h光照＋艾灸组显著高于艾灸组（P〈0．01）。结论：艾灸能够有效抑制RA大鼠足肿胀、抑制血浆IL-1水平、升高IL-4水平，具有明确的抗炎作用；MT与RA炎症过程中密切相关，MT对抗炎因子IL-4可能有抑制作用，MT在艾灸治疗RA炎症中可能不是发挥抗炎作用，而是起到致炎作用。艾灸、持续光照可能通过抑制MT分泌，从而促进抗炎因子IL-4分泌而发挥抗娄作用．

英文摘要：

Objective：To calculate foot swelling degree of RA rats and investigate the impact of IL- 1β ,IL-4 in the plasma and melatonin in serum of RA rats by moxibustion treatment, to explore the relationship of MT and impact of cytokines balance in rheumatoid arthritis through moxibustion. Methods ： To moxia ＂＇ Shenshu＂＂ Zusanli＂ on the RA rats , used AA as RA model, 24 hours lighting（2501x） as disturbed method, then determinate IL - 1β .IL -4 in the plasma and MT in serum by ELISA after treatment. Results：For the amount of MT in RA serum, model group were obviously increased than normal group （P 〈 O. 05 ）, moxia group were obviously decreased than model group （ P 〈 0.05 ） ）, 24 hours lighting group were obviously decreased than normal group（ P 〈 0. 01 ）. For the amount of foot swelling degree and IL - 1β in RA plasma , model group were obviously increased than normal group（P 〈 0. 01 ）, moxia group were obviously decreased than model group（ P 〈 0. 01 ） ,24 hours lighting group and moxia group have no significant difference （P 〉 0. 05 ）. For the amount of IL -4, model group were obviously increased than normal group（P 〈0. 01 ） ,moxia group were obviously increased than model group（P 〈0. 01 ） ,24 hours lighting group were obviously increased than moxia group（ P 〈 0.01 ）. Conclusion：Melatonin may have opposite effect to the moxibustion though decreased the amount of IL -4 and IL - 1 β/IL -4 balance ;moxibustion may have anti - inflammatory effect though decreased MT and increased IL -4,IL - 1β/IL -4.