Gene expression of cytokines in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for ulcerative colitis in rats

AIM To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the expression of IL 1β and IL 6 mRNA in ulcerative colitis rats. METHODS Human fresh surgical colonic mucosa was homogenized by adding appropriate amount of normal saline and centrifuged at 3000r/min . Protein content of the supernatant was measured and then mixed with Freund adjuvant, and injected into the plantae of the model group rats, then into the plantea, dorsa, inguen and abdominal cavities (no Freund adjuvant for the last injection) on the 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st day respectively. When a certain titer of serum anti colonic antibody was reached, 20mL/L formalin and antigen fluid (no Frenud adjuvant) were administered by enema to set up ulcerative colitis rat model. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: model control group (MC=8), electropuncture group (EP=8), herb spartition moxibustion group (HPM=8) and normal control group (NC=8). HPM: Mosa cones made of refined mugwort floss were placed on the medicinal pads (medicinal pad dispensing: Radix Aconiti praeparata, cortex Cinnamomi , etc) for Qihai (RN 6) and Tianshu (ST 25, bilateral) and ignited. Two moxa cones were used for each acupuncture once a day and 14 times in all. EP: Tianshu (bilateral) and Qihai were stimulated by the intermittent pulse with 2Hz frequency, 4mA intensity for 20 minutes once a day and 14 times in all. After treatment, all rats were killed simultaneously. The spleen was separated and the distal colon was dissected. Total tissue RNA was isolated by the guanidinium thiocyanate phenol chloroform extraction method. RT PCR technique was used to observe the expression of IL 1β and IL 6 mRNA. RESULTS IL 1β and IL 6 mRNA was not detected in the spleen and colonic mucosa of NC rats, while it was significantly expressed in that of MC rats. IL 1β and IL 6 mRNA was markedly lower in EP and HPM rats than that in MC rats. There was no significant difference in the levels of IL 1β and IL 6 mRNA between EP and HPW rats. The amount of IL 1β and IL 6 mRNA was nearly the same between the spleen and colon in different groups. CONCLUSION Acupuncture and moxibustion greatly inhibited the expression of IL 1β and IL 6 mRNA in the ulcerative colitis rats.