title: [Effects of moxibustion at "Ganshu" (BL 18) on serum alpha-fatoprotein and liver livin levels in rats with precancerous lesion of primary hepatocellular carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of moxibustion at "Ganshu" (BL18) on levels of Livin (a novel member of the inhibitors of apoptosis family and plays crucial roles in apoptosis, cell proliferation, and cell cycle control) in the liver tissue in rats with precancerous lesion of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (n = 10), model group (n = 20), moxibustion-20 d group (n = 15) and moxibustion-40 d group (n = 15). HCC model was established by intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 50 mg/kg), once every 3 days for 12 weeks. Moxibustion was applied to bilateral "Ganshu" (BL 18), once every other day for 10 times (moxibustion-20 d group) and 20 times (moxibustion-40 d group), respectively. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) content was detected with ELISA and Livin immunoactivity of the liver tissue detected using immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After modeling, serum AFP content and liver Livin immunoactivity of the model group were significantly increased in comparison with the control group (P < 0.01). After moxibustion treatment, serum AFP content in the moxibustion-20 d group and liver Livin immunoactivity in both moxibustion-20 d and moxibustion-40 d groups were remarkably down-regulated in comparison with the model group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the moxibustion-40 d group and the model group in serum AFP content (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moxibustion can down-regulate liver Livin protein expression, which probably has a role in promoting hepatocellular apoptosis to inhibit precancerous lesion and to postpone hepatocarcinogenesis.
authors: Wen-Rui
authors: WR
authors: Jia
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Dong
authors: Xi-Liang
authors: XL
authors: Xie
authors: Pei
authors: P
authors: Wang
authors: Qiu-Ju
authors: QJ
authors: Zhang
authors: Yue-Qi
authors: YQ
authors: Wang
authors: Zhong-Wei
authors: ZW
authors: Hou
authors: Ming-He
authors: MH
authors: Sui
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009071:Moxibustion; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins