目的:观察艾灸对克罗恩病(Crohn Disease, CD)肠纤维化大鼠结肠转化生长因子-β (Transforming Growth Factor-β, TGF-β)蛋白、Smad4 蛋白及 mRNA 表达的影响,从 TGF-β/Smads 信号途径探讨针灸治疗CD肠纤维化的作用机制。方法:采用雄性清洁级 SD 大鼠建立 CD 肠纤维化模型, 应用随机的方法,将大鼠分为正常组、模型组、温和灸组、电针组、隔药灸组。正常组和模型组不予任何治疗;温和灸组、电针组、隔药灸组均取天枢、气海穴,分别施以温和灸、电针、隔药灸治疗。治疗结束后,采用免疫组织化学法(Immunohistochemistry, IHC)检测各组大鼠结肠 TGF-β与Smad4蛋白的表达;采用荧光定量聚合酶链反应法(Fluorescence Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction, FQ-PCR) 检测结肠 Smad4 mRNA 的表达。结果:与正常组比较,模型组大鼠结肠 TGF-β蛋白、Smad4 蛋白及 mRNA 表达增加(P〈0.01)。经温和灸、电针、隔药灸治疗后,与模型组比较,TGF-β蛋白、Smad4 蛋白及 mRNA 表达均有不同程度的降低(P〈0.01 或 P〈0.05)。结论:CD肠纤维化大鼠结肠TGF-β蛋白、 Smad4 蛋白及mRNA表达显著增多,温和灸、电针、隔药灸天枢和气海穴均可下调CD肠纤维化大鼠结肠TGF-β蛋白、Smad4 蛋白及 mRNA 的异常表达。
Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion on the expressions of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) protein, and Smad4 protein and mRNA in rats with intestinal fibrosis in Crohn disease (CD), and to discuss the action mechanism of acupuncture-moxibustion in treating intestinal fibrosis in CD from the perspective of TGF-β/Smads signal pathway. Methods: A CD intestinal fibrosis model was developed by using male SD rats of clean grade. The rats were randomized into a normal group, a model group, a mild moxibustion group, an electroacupuncture (EA) group, and a herb-partitioned moxibustion group. The rats in the normal and the model groups did not receive any interventions. Tianshu (ST 25) and Qihai (CV 6) were selected for the rats in the mild moxibustion group, the EA group, and the herb-partitioned moxibustion group. Mild moxibustion, EA, and herb-partitioned moxibustion were given respectively. After treatment, the expressions of TGF-β and Smad4 proteins in rat’s colon were detected by using immunohistochemistry (IHC); the expression of Smad4 mRNA was determined by using fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR). Results: Compared with the normal group, the expressions of TGF-β protein, Smad4 protein and Smad4 mRNA significantly increased in the model group (P0.01). Compared with the model group, the expressions of TGF-β protein, Smad4 protein, and Smad4 mRNA dropped markedly (P0.01 or P0.05) after treatments of mild moxibustion, EA, and herb-partitioned moxibustion. Conclusion: The expressions of TGF-β protein, Smad4 protein and Smad4 mRNA significantly increase in CD rats withintestinal fibrosis; while mild moxibustion, EA and herb-partitioned moxibustion at Tianshu (ST 25) and Qihai (CV 6) all can down-regulate the abnormal expressions.