ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of Toll-like receptor (TLR4) inhibition in the delay of formation of atherosclerosis by herb-partition moxibustion. METHOD: Seventy-five rabbits were randomly assigned to one of five groups: blank, atherosclerosis (AS) model, direct moxibustion, herb-partition moxibustion, and drug treatment. With the exception of the blank group, all rabbits were given a high-fat diet in addition to immunologic injury to create the AS model. The experiments were carried out for 16 weeks, at which time the aorta was removed from each rabbit. Immunohistochemical methods were used to detect the gray level of the aortic TLR4 to observe the immunologic competence of its antigens. Fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of TLR4 messenger RNA (mRNA) in the aorta. RESULTS: The gray-scale value of TLR4 and the TLR4 mRNA expression significantly decreased (p<0.05) in the direct moxibustion, herb-partition moxibustion, and drug treatment groups. Furthermore, the effects of the herb-partition moxibustion and drug treatment were superior to those of the direct moxibustion. CONCLUSION: Herb-partition moxibustion inhibits aortic TLR4 activity and mRNA expression, showing that herb-partition moxibustion delays the formation of atherosclerosis through the inhibition of TLR4 expression.
Subject(s)
Atherosclerosis/prevention & control , Magnoliopsida , Moxibustion/methods , Plant Preparations , Toll-Like Receptor 4/antagonists & inhibitors , Animals , Anticholesteremic Agents/therapeutic use , Antigens , Aorta , Atherosclerosis/genetics , Atherosclerosis/metabolism , Atorvastatin , Diet, High-Fat , Disease Models, Animal , Heptanoic Acids/therapeutic use , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Pyrroles/therapeutic use , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Rabbits , Random Allocation , Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics , Toll-Like Receptor 4/immunologyABSTRACT
Needle-sticking method has essential differences from stuck needle induced by acupuncture accident. This manipulation refers to the needle-sticking manifestation induced by twirling the needle in one direction after arrival of qi so as to tangle muscle fibers, which can combined with some compound methods such as trembling, shaking, flying, lifting, plucking, dragging and so on. It is effective for excessive syndrome, pain syndrome, arthralgia syndrome, etc. and with functions of promoting flow of qi and inducing qi to carry out stimulating circulation of channel-qi, promoting the needling sensation propagating along the channel and accelerating qi reaching to the affected region. Its main adverse reactions are pain, tissue damage and so on. The selection of needling instruments, the needling depth, the twirling intensities and location of forbidden or careful application must be paid attention in concrete practice.
