[Effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α in colon mucosa in ulcerative colitis mice]

Objective: To investigate the effect of acupuncture or moxibustion of "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Guanyuan" (CV4) on expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) in colonic tissue in ulcerative colitis (UC) mice.

Methods: Thirty-two male Kunming mice were randomly divided into control, model, acupuncture and moxibustion groups (n=8 in each group). The UC model was induced by free drinking of 3% Dextran Sodium Sulfate for 7 days. Acupuncture or moxibustion was applied to ST36 or CV4 for 15 min, once daily for 5 days. The severity of UC was monitored using the disease activity index (DAI) which includes evaluation of weight loss, stool consistency, and presence of fecal blood. Histopathological changes of the colon mucosa were observed by H.E. staining. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were employed to detect the expression of STAT3 and HIF-1α proteins in the colon mucosa tissue.

Results: After modeling, the DAI, immunoactivity and expression of STAT3 and HIF-1α in the colonic tissue were significantly increased in the model group relevant to the control group (P<0.01,P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of DAI, STAT3 and HIF-1α considerably decreased in both acupuncture and moxibustion groups (P<0.05), and without significant differences between the two intervention groups in the levels of DAI, STAT3 and HIF-1α after the intervention (P>0.05). H.E. staining of the colonic tissue showed damage and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the model group, and reduction of the submucosal edema and infiltrated inflammatory cells in the acupuncture and moxibustion groups.

Conclusion: Both acupuncture and moxibustion can improve UC in UC mice, which may be associated with its effects in down-regulating the expression of colonic STAT3 and HIF-1α proteins.

目的：观察针灸对葡聚糖硫酸钠(DSS)诱导的溃疡性结肠炎(UC)小鼠结肠组织中信号转导与转录活化因子3(STAT3)和低氧诱导因子-1α(HIF-1α)表达的影响，探讨针灸治疗UC的机制。方法：雄性昆明小鼠采用DSS饮用法复制UC模型，模型成功后随机分为模型组、针刺组、艾灸组，每组8只，另设8只为空白组。选取“关元”“足三里”进行针刺或艾灸治疗，每次15 min，每日1次，连续5 d。观察小鼠一般情况、疾病活动指数(DAI)，HE染色法观察各组小鼠结肠组织形态学变化，免疫组织化学法、Western blot法检测结肠组织中STAT3和HIF-1α蛋白表达水平。结果：模型组较空白组一般状况差，DAI明显升高(P<0.01)，光镜下模型组小鼠出现结肠黏膜破坏缺损、炎性细胞浸润等表现，模型组STAT3、HIF-1α的表达较空白组明显上调(P<0.05)。与模型组比较，针刺组和艾灸组小鼠的一般状况好转，DAI评分明显下降(P<0.05)，结肠腺体破坏、黏膜下层水肿程度减轻，炎细胞浸润量减少，STAT3、HIF-1α蛋白表达明显下降(P<0.05)。结论：针刺或艾灸均对UC具有治疗效应，且能有效降低UC小鼠结肠组织STAT3和HIF-1α蛋白的表达，针刺与艾灸之间效果差异不明显。.

Keywords: Acupuncture; Colonic tissue; Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α); Moxibustion; Signal transducers and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3); Ulcerative colitis.