Effect of pre-moxibustion on apoptosis and proliferation of gastric mucosa cells.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of pre-moxibustion on apoptosis and proliferation of gastric mucosal cell in rats with stress-induced ulcer, and to analyze the relationship between those effects and the expression of heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70).


METHODS
Sixty healthy Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into four groups, namely group A, B, C and D. The animal model of stress ulcer was established by water immersion and restraint stress. The rats in group A, B, and D served as the restraint, model, and non-acupoint controls, respectively, while those in group C received moxibustion at Zusanli and Liangmen points. Immunohistochemical methodology was used to detect the expression of HSP70, apoptosis index (AI, multiply 10(-6)/microm(2)) and proliferation index (PCNA-LI, multiply 10(-6)/microm(2)). The mucosal expression of transforming growth factor alpha(TGF-alpha) was detected by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
Moxibustion at Zusanli and Liangmen points significantly decreased the gastric injury and the apoptosis of gastric mucosal cells, while markedly increased the mucosal expression of TGF-alpha and HSP70 as well as the proliferation of gastric mucosal cells. Compared with group A, ulcer index (UI) (26.8 +/- 9.8 vs 12.0 +/- 5.9, P < 0.01), AI (9.6 +/- 4.2 vs 4.4 +/- 2.6, P < 0.05) and expression of HSP70 (9.6 +/- 4.2 vs 4.4 +/- 2.6, P < 0.05) were significantly increased, but the content of TGF-alpha (104.7 +/- 51.2 pg/mL vs 254.0 +/- 86.9 pg/mL, P < 0.01) and PCNA-LI (6.9 +/- 4.7 vs 14.9 +/- 4.6, P < 0.05) were significantly decreased in group B. However, ulcer index values (UI) and AI were obviously lower in group C compared to groups B and D (14.1 +/- 5.4 vs 26.8 +/- 9.8 and 26.2 +/- 7.7, P < 0.01; 3.0 +/- 1.6 vs 9.6 +/- 4.2 and 8.2 +/- 5.2, P < 0.05, respectively), but content of TGF-alpha (237.0 +/- 72.6 pg/mL vs 104.7 +/- 51.2 pg/mL and 154.1 +/- 61.3 pg/mL, P < 0.01) and expression of HSP70 (0.13 +/- 0.03 vs 0.08 +/- 0.06 and 0.06 +/- 0.04, P < 0.05) were higher in group C. Furthermore, the PCNA-LI was significantly higher in group C than in group B (21.6 +/- 4.1 vs 6.9 +/- 4.7, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Moxibustion at Zusanli and Liangmen points has a protective effect on rats gastric mucosa in stress-induced gastric ulcer, which is closely related to its actions in promoting synthesis of TGF-alpha and proliferation of gastric mucosal cells, suppressing gastric mucosal cell apoptosis, and up-regulating HSP70 expression.
Yi
Shou-Xiang
SX
Institute of Acupuncture and Massage, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 113 Shaoshan Middle Road, Changsha 410007, Hunan Province, China. yishouxiang@yahoo.com.cn
Peng
Yan
Y
Chang
Xiao-Rong
XR
Peng
Na
N
Yan
Jie
J
Lin
Yap-Ping
YP
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007101:Immersion / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D009071:Moxibustion / Q000379:methods*; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000009:adverse effects; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha