[Effect of different types of moxibustion intervention on expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and TNF-alpha in rabbits with rheumatoid arthritis].

Objective: To observe the effect of different moxibustion intervention on expression of interleukin-1 (IL-l) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the synovial fluid of hind-knee joint in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rabbits.

Methods: Forty Japanese big-ear white rabbits (half male and half female) were randomized into normal control, RA model, direct-moxibustion, ginger-partitioned moxibustion and warm moxibustion groups (n= 8). RA model was established by injection of Freund's Complete Adjuvant (0. 5 mL/kg) into the articular cavities of the rabbits' bilateral hind-limbs. Moxibustion intervention was applied to unilateral "Shenshu" (BL 23) and "Zusanli"(ST 36) regions alternatively for 20 min from the 7th day on after modeling, once daily for 3 weeks except Sundays. The circumference of the hindlimb-knee joint was measured using a tape measure and the contents of IL-1 and TNF-alpha in the synovial fluid of articular cavities were detected by ELISA.

Results: In comparison with the normal control group, the circumference values of the bilateral hind-knee joints, and the contents of IL-1 and TNF-alpha in the synovial fluid of articular cavities in the model group were significantly increased (P<0. 01). After the moxibustion treatment, compared with the model group, the circumference values of the bilateral hind-knee joints, and IL-1 and TNF-alpha contents of the synovial fluid in the warm moxibustion, direct moxibustion and ginger-partitioned moxibustion groups were remarkably reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05). The effects of the ginger-partitioned group were significantly superior to those of both warm moxibustion and direct moxibustion groups in decreasing the swelled hind-knee joint circumference on day 21 after the treatment and down-regulating synovial fluid inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and TNF-alpha levels (P<0. 05).

Conclusion: Warm, direct and ginger-separated moxibustion interventions all can reduce inflammatory reactions of the knee-joint and suppress inflammatory cytokine IL-1 and TNF-alpha levels of the synovial fluid in RA rabbits, which may contribute to its effect in improving RA in clinic. The therapeutic effect of ginger-partitioned muxibustion intervention is apparently better.