Abstract
Aim To investigate the relationship between the effects of electroacupuncture/moxibustion and the balance of Th17/Treg in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) and to preliminary compare the effects of the above two methods. Methods DSS-induced UC mice were treated by electroacupuncture and moxibustion. Disease activity index (DAI) was scored; intestinal pathological structure and ultrastructure were observed. The levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, IL-17F, and TGF-β in plasma were measured by ELISA. The percentages of Treg and Th17 in spleen lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry. Also, the expressions of TLR2, TLR4, RORγt, and FOXP3 in the distal colon were detected by immunohistochemistry or western blot. Results Both electroacupuncture and moxibustion can relieve UC. These effects are further supported by ELISA results. In addition, the ratio of Treg and Th17 in spleen lymphocytes and the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 are significantly improved. Also, the expression of RORγt and FOXP3 in distal colon were improved. Besides, the effect of moxibustion is better than that of electroacupuncture on TLR2, TLR4, and FOXP3 expression (P < 0.05). ConclusionBoth electroacupuncture and moxibustion may ameliorate UC by regulating the balance of Th17/Treg. Whether moxibustion has better efficacy than electroacupuncture needs further study.
Highlights
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common kind of chronic colonic inflammation disease in north America and northern Europe with incidence varying from nine to twenty cases per one hundred thousand person-years [1]
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. It suppresses the activity of effect cells by secreting TGF-β1 and/or IL-10 which inhibit the proliferation of Th cells and their production of inflammatory factor [9]
The DSS-induced UC model mice generally were in poor conditions
Summary
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common kind of chronic colonic inflammation disease in north America and northern Europe with incidence varying from nine to twenty cases per one hundred thousand person-years [1]. Treg cells orchestrate the overall immune response and play important roles in preventing the aggravation of UC by regulating the activity of effect T cells. It suppresses the activity of effect cells by secreting TGF-β1 and/or IL-10 which inhibit the proliferation of Th cells and their production of inflammatory factor [9]. Reports have demonstrated that acupuncture plus moxibustion or moxibustion alone can (1) manage the symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stool, and consequent weight loss [17], (2) promote recovery of damaged intestinal tissues due to inflammation [18], and (3) suppress the inflammatory response of UC [19]. We will compare the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion to see which one is better in alleviating UC based on animal experiment
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