Objective: To observe the effect of acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) combined with moxibustion on the expressions of Notch receptor 1 and target genes Hes 1 and Math 1 in colonic mucosa of ulcerative colitis (UC) rats, so as to reveal its mechanism of treating UC from the perspective of Notch signaling pathway.
Methods: Thirty SD rats were randomized into normal, model, ACE combined with moxibustion (combination), ACE, and moxibustion groups (n=6 in each group). The UC model was established by intrarectal administration of 5% trinitro-benzene-sulfonic acid and 50% ethyl alcohol. Moxibustion was applied to bilateral "Shangjuxu" (ST37), "Tianshu" (ST25) and "Dachangshu" (BL25) for 10 min, once daily for 14 days, and ACE applied to the same 3 acupoints, once a week for two weeks. After the treatment, colonic mucosal pathological changes were observed after hematoxylin eosin (HE) stain. Protein and mRNA expressions of Notch 1, Hes 1 and Math 1 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.
Results: H.E. staining showed severe defect of the colonic mucosal epithelium with infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells in the model group, which was milder in moxibustion, ACE and moxibustion + ACE groups. After modeling, the protein and mRNA expressions of Notch 1 and Hes 1 in the colonic mucosa were obviously increased (P<0.01), while the protein and mRNA expressions of Math 1 were significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the model group relevant to the normal group. Following the intervention, the protein and mRNA expression levels of Notch 1 and Hes 1 in the colonic mucosa were significantly lower (P<0.05, P<0.01) in moxibustion, ACE and combination groups, the mRNA expression level of Math 1 was significantly increased in both ACE and combination groups (P<0.01), and the protein expression of Math 1 was significantly higher in the three treatment groups relevant to the model group (P<0.01). The above indexes of moxibustion + ACE were considerably superior to those of simple ACE and simple moxibustion (P<0.05, P<0.01).
Conclusion: Acupoint catgut embedding combined with moxibustion can repair the injured colonic mucosa of UC rats, which may be related with its effects in suppressing the expression of Notch 1 and Hes 1, up-regulating the expression of Math 1 in the colonic mucosa, thereby regulating the balance of differentiation between colonic epithelial secretory and absorption cell lines.
目的：观察穴位埋线联合艾灸对溃疡性结肠炎(UC)大鼠结肠黏膜组织Notch受体1及靶基因Hes 1、Math 1表达的影响, 从Notch信号通路角度探讨其治疗UC的机制。方法：SD大鼠随机分为正常组、模型组、埋线+艾灸组、埋线组、艾灸组, 每组6只。采用5%三硝基苯磺酸+50%乙醇混合溶液灌肠法复制UC模型。模型成功次日开始治疗, 穴位取“上巨虚”“天枢”“大肠俞”。艾灸组艾条温和灸10 min, 1次/d, 共14次。埋线组用简易埋线针进行穴位埋线, 1次/周, 共2次。埋线+艾灸组于艾灸后6 h埋线。HE染色法观察结肠黏膜组织形态变化；q-PCR法和Western blot法检测结肠黏膜组织Notch 1、Hes 1和Math 1 mRNA及蛋白表达。结果：正常组大鼠结肠上皮完整、结构清晰, 杯状细胞丰富, 腺管结构正常。模型组大鼠结肠黏膜结构模糊, 上皮大量破损、脱落, 杯状细胞缺失, 腺管破坏, 大量炎性细胞浸润, 各治疗组较模型组结肠损伤有不同程度改善, 埋线+艾灸组最为明显。与正常组比较, 模型组结肠黏膜组织Notch 1、Hes 1 mRNA及蛋白表达水平升高(P<0.01), Math 1 mRNA及蛋白表达水平降低(P<0.01)；与模型组比较, 各治疗组结肠黏膜组织Notch 1、Hes 1 mRNA及蛋白表达水平降低(P<0.01, P<0.05), 埋线+艾灸组、埋线组Math 1 mRNA表达水平升高(P<0.01), 各治疗组结肠黏膜组织Math 1 蛋白表达水平升高(P<0.01)。埋线+艾灸组结肠黏膜组织Notch 1、Hes 1 mRNA及蛋白表达水平低于埋线组、艾灸组(P<0.01, P<0.05), Math 1 mRNA表达水平高于艾灸组(P<0.01), Math 1 蛋白表达水平高于埋线组、艾灸组(P<0.01)。结论：穴位埋线+艾灸对UC大鼠结肠损伤修复具有促进作用, 其可能通过降低结肠黏膜组织Notch 1、Hes 1表达水平, 上调Math 1表达水平, 抑制Notch信号通路的过度活化, 从而调节结肠上皮分泌细胞系和吸收细胞系间分化的平衡而起效。.
Keywords: Acupoint catgut embedding; Moxibustion; Notch signaling pathway; Ulcerative colitis; stroke.