Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion on Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway of synovial cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rabbits for revealing the underlying mechanism of moxibustion in the treatment of RA.
Methods: A total of 30 rabbits (Japanese Big-ear White species) were randomized (stratified random) into control, model and moxibustion groups with 10 cases in each. RA model was established by injection of Freund's Complete Adjuvant (FCA, 0.5 mL/kg) into the animal's bilateral joint cavities. Moxibustion was applied to bilateral "Shenshu" (BL 23), 5 cones every time, once daily (except Sundays), 3 weeks altogether. The synovial tissue of joint was sampled for analyzing the expression of signal molecules associated with JAK-STAT pathway with gene chip and bioinformation analytical techniques.
Results: Compared with normal control group, the perimeters of both knee joints in model group increased significantly from the 3rd day to 21st day after injection of FCA (P < 0.01), while compared with model group, those in moxibustion group decreased considerably from the 6th day on (P < 0.05, 0.01). In comparison with control group, JAK-STAT pathway-associated genes with up-regulated expression in model group were C/EBP beta, CBP, CRP, GATA3, IFNAR1, IFNAR2, IFNGR2, IL-10Rb, INDO, SH2B, STAT3, STAT6, JAK3 and GP130, and those with down-regulated expression were A2M, MIG and IL-2Rr, suggesting an abnormal activation of JAK-STAT pathway; while in comparison with model group, the related gene up-regulated in moxibustion group in the expression was IL22R and those down-regulated were Cyclin D1, C/EBP beta, CRP, GATA3, IFNAR2, INDO, JAK2, JAK3, V-JUN, STAT3, STAT5, SH2B and OSM, showing that moxibustion had an apparent inhibitory effect on AR-induced abnormal activation of some genes as C/EBP beta, GATA3, IFNAR2, INDO, etc.
Conclusion: Moxibustion can resist inflammation and eliminate swelling in RA rabbits, which may be closely with its effect in inhibiting abnormal activation of JAK-STAT pathway in synovial cells.