艾条灸联合益气固阳汤对大鼠免疫共刺激分子OX40/OX40L的影响OA

Objective:To investigate the potential mechanism by which moxa sticks moxibustion combined with Yiqi Guyang decoction regulates immune co-stimulatory molecules OX40/OX40L in rats.Methods:A total of 60 Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly assigned to a blank control group,a moxibustion group,a Yiqi Guyang decoction group,and a combination group receiving both moxibustion and decoction treatment,with 15 rats in each group.Except for the blank control group,rats in the moxibustion group received approximately 5 minutes of moxibustion per acupoint.Those in the Yiqi Guyang Decoction group were administered the decoction via gavage.And those in the combination group received both interventions.All treatments were administered once daily for 10 consecutive days.The thymus index and its change rate were calculated.Histological alter-ations in the thymus were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining.Serum levels of CD3+,CD4+,and CD8+as well as the CD4+/CD8+ratio were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The expression levels of OX40 and OX40L proteins in thymus tissue were analyzed by Western blotting.Results:Compared with the blank control group,the moxibustion group,Yiqi Guyang decoction group,and combination group exhibited increased thymus indices(P<0.05),with increases in the thymus index change rates of 6.47%,5.79%,and 6.51%in the moxibustion group,Yiqi Guyang decoction group,and combination group,respectively.Additionally,serum levels of CD3+and CD4+and the CD4+/CD8+ratio significantly increased in the moxibustion group,Yiqi Guyang decoction group,and combination group(P<0.01),while CD8+levels decreased(P<0.01).Protein expression levels of OX40 and OX40L were reduced in both the combination group and moxibustion group(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and OX40L expression was also down-regulated in the Yiqi Guyang decoction group(P<0.05).HE staining revealed an increase in thymus cellularity across the three groups.Compared with the moxibustion group,the combination group showed higher levels of CD3+and CD4+and an elevated CD4+/CD8+ratio(P<0.01),along with lower CD8+levels(P<0.01),and significantly reduced OX40L protein expression(P<0.01).Compared with the Yiqi Guyang decoction group,the combination group demonstrated increased CD3+and CD4+levels and higher CD4+/CD8+ratio(P<0.01),decreased CD8+level(P<0.01),and reduced expression levels of both OX40 and OX40L proteins(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion:The combination of moxa sticks moxibustion with Yiqi Guyang decoction may improve immune function by synergistically inhibiting the OX40/OX40L pathway,promoting the repair of thymic tissue structure,enhancing its function,and optimizing peripheral T lymphocyte subsets.