[Effects of moxibustion at Feishu (BL 13) and Gaohuang (BL 43) on expression of TGF-beta1 in the bleomycin -induced pulmonary fibrosis].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the mechanism of moxibustion arresting the pulmonary fibrosis and provide experimental basis for prevention and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis with acupuncture and moxibustion.


METHODS
One hundred and forty SD rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups: a blank group, a model group, a moxibustion group and a prednisone group, 35 rats in each group. The 3 groups expect the blank group were injected with bleomycin via trachea to induce experimental pulmonary fibrosis model, and 7 days after modeling, they were treated with moxibustion at bilateral Feishu (BL 13) and Gaohuang (BL 43), 3 cones each point, once each day, 10 days constituting one therapeutic course with an interval of one day between courses. After 3 courses, all rats were killed and expressions of TGF-beta1mRNA were detected with PCR method.


RESULTS
The content of TGF-beta1mRNA in the pulmonary tissue in the moxibustion group and the prednisone group was significantly lower than the model group (P < 0.01), and there was no significant difference between the moxibustion group and the prednisone group (P > 0. 05).


CONCLUSIONS
Both moxibustion at Feishu (BL 13) and Gaohuang (BL 43), and prednisone treatment can significantly suppress the expression of TGF-beta1mRNA in the pulmonary tissue in the rat of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.
Li
Rong
R
Chengdu University of TCM, Sichuan 610075, China. lr2269@163.com
Li
Wen-Jun
WJ
Cai
Yong-Ning
YN
Li
Zhi-Gang
ZG
Luo
Quan'an
Q
Zhou
Mi-Juan
MJ
Li
Cui-Xia
CX
Li
Fu-Hong
FH
Liu
Ming-Fang
MF
D000818:Animals; D001761:Bleomycin; D006801:Humans; D009071:Moxibustion; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics
D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D001761:Bleomycin