[Effect of moxibustion at "Zusanli"(ST36) and "Shenshu"(BL23) on miR-155-mediated TLR4/NF-κB signaling involving amelioration of synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis rats].

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of moxibustion at Zusanli(ST36) and Shenshu(BL23) on synovitis, and expressions of miR-155, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), interlukine（IL-1） receptor-associated kinase (IRAK1), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF)-α and IL-6 mRNA and protein of synovial membrane in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of RA. METHODS A total of 48 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control, model, moxibustion and antagonist groups (n=12 rats in each group). The RA model was replicated by placing the rats in a wind, cold and wet environment and injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA, 0.5 mL) into the right hindlimb foot plantar. Moxibustion was applied to bilateral ST36 and BL23 for 30 min, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Rats of the antagonist group was treated by injection of TLR4 antagonist (TAK-242, 1 mg/mL, 0.1 mg/kg) via tail vein, once per day for consecutive 21 d. The joint swelling degree (JSD) and arthritis index (AI, red swelling scale) were determined, and the expression levels of various indicators of miR-155, and TLR4, myeloid MyD88, IRAK1, TRAF6, NF-κB, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA and protein were assayed by quantitative real time-PCR and Western blot, separately. RESULTS Compared with the normal control group, the JSD and AI, and the expression levels of synovial miR-155, TLR4, MyD88, IRAK1, TRAF6, NF-κB, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA and protein were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the increased levels of JSD and AI, and the expression levels of synovial miR-155, TLR4, MyD88, IRAK1, TRAF6, NF-κB, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA and protein were notably down-regulated in both moxibustion and antagonist groups (P<0.01). The effects of moxibustion were evidently superior to the antagonist in down-regulating the abovementioned indexes (P<0.01), except TLR4 mRNA and protein. CONCLUSION Moxibustion at ST36 and BL23 can reduce the synovitis of RA rats, which is related to its effects in suppressing the expressions of miR-155, TLR4, MyD88, IRAK1, TRAF6, NF-κB, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA and protein (i.e., inhibition of miR-155/TLR4/NF-κB signaling).