Abstract
Objective
To observe the effect of moxibustion on behaviors and related products of tryptophan (Trp) metabolism in the colon of mice with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and to explore the mechanism of moxibustion in the IBS treatment.
Methods
Twenty-four mice were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a moxibustion group, and a probiotic group, with 6 mice in each group. The visceral pain model of IBS was established by enema with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) solution. Mice in the moxibustion group were treated with mild moxibustion at bilateral Zusanli (ST36), and those in the probiotic group were treated with probiotics such as Bifidobacterium by gavage. Abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) test, elevated plus-maze (EPM) test, and forced swimming test (FST) were performed after treatment. The expression levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) in the colon were detected by immunofluorescence, and the expression levels of Trp, kynurenine (Kyn), and indole-2,3-oxygenase (IDO) in the colon were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results
Compared with the normal group, the AWR scores were increased significantly in the model group under different pressure values (P<0.01), the open-arm staying time and open-arm entries in the EPM test were decreased significantly (P<0.01, P<0.05), the motionless time in the FST was increased significantly (P<0.01), and the expression levels of colonic Trp, TPH1, IDO, 5-HT, and Kyn were increased significantly (P<0.01) in the models. Compared with the model group, the AWR scores were differently decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), the open-arm entries in the EPM test were increased (P<0.05), the motionless times in the FST were decreased (P<0.05), and the colonic expression levels of Trp, TPH1, IDO, and 5-HT were decreased (P<0.01 or P<0.05) in the moxibustion and probiotic groups; the open-arm staying time was significantly increased in the moxibustion group (P<0.01), and the colonic expression level of Kyn was significantly decreased in the probiotic group (P<0.01).
Conclusion
Moxibustion at Zusanli (ST36) improves visceral pain and pain mood and down-regulates the expression levels of colonic TPH1, IDO, Trp, 5-HT, and Kyn in IBS mice.
摘要
目的
观察艾灸对肠易激综合征(IBS)模型小鼠行为学及其结肠色氨酸代谢相关产物的影响, 探讨艾灸治疗IBS 的作用机制。
方法
将24只小鼠随机分为正常组、模型组、艾灸组和益生菌组, 每组6只。采用2,4,6-三硝基苯磺酸 (TNBS)溶液灌肠建立IBS内脏痛模型。艾灸组采用温和灸双侧足三里; 益生菌组采用双歧杆菌等益生菌灌胃。治疗后 进行腹部撤回反射(AWR)实验、高架十字迷宫(EPM)实验和强迫游泳实验(FST); 采用免疫荧光法检测结肠5-羟色氨 (5-HT)和色氨酸羟化酶1(TPH1)表达量; 酶联免疫吸附测定法检测结肠色氨酸(Trp)、犬尿氨酸(Kyn)和吲哚2,3加氧酶 (IDO)表达。
结果
与正常组相比, 模型组不同压力值下AWR评分均明显升高(P<0.01), EPM实验开臂停留时间和进入开 臂次数均显著下降(P<0.01; P<0.05), FST中静止不动时间显著增加(P<0.01), 结肠Trp、TPH1、IDO、5-HT及Kyn表达显著 增加(P<0.01)。与模型组相比, 艾灸组与益生菌组AWR评分不同程度下降(P<0.05或P<0.01); EPM实验进入开臂次数均 增加(P<0.05); FST中静止不动时间均减少(P<0.05); 结肠Trp、TPH1、IDO及5-HT表达均减少(P<0.01或P<0.05); 艾灸组开 臂停留时间显著增加(P<0.01); 益生菌组结肠Kyn表达显著减少(P<0.01)。
结论
艾灸足三里可改善IBS小鼠内脏痛与痛 情绪, 下调结肠TPH1、IDO、Trp、5-HT及Kyn表达。
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (国家自然科学基金 项目, No. 81873377); Qihuang Scholar in the National Support Program for Leading Talents of Traditional Chinese Medicine (国家中医药领军人才“岐黄学者); Special Project of Clinical Research in Health Industry of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission 上海市卫生健 康委员会卫生行业临床研究专项项目 No. 202040250); Shanghai Natural Science Foundation Project (上海市自然科学基金项目, No. 16ZR1433500); “One Hundred Xinglin Scholars” Plan of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (上海中医药大学“杏林百人”计划); Graduate Innovation Training Program of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (上海中医药大学研究生创新培养专项) No. Y2020040).
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CHEN Jiayi, master degree candidate
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Author WU Huangan is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science. The paper was handled by other editors and has undergone a rigorous peer review process. Author WU Huangan was not involved in the journals review or decisions related to this manuscript.
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Chen, J., Zhu, X., Peng, Y. et al. Effects of moxibustion on behaviors and tryptophan metabolism-related products in mice with irritable bowel syndrome. J. Acupunct. Tuina. Sci. 21, 91–100 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11726-023-1366-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11726-023-1366-4
Keywords
- Moxibustion Therapy
- Point, Zusanli (ST36)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Visceral Pain
- Tryptophan Metabolism
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Mice