艾灸及艾烟调控p38MAPK/NLRP3/Caspase-1信号通路对哮喘大鼠气道炎症的影响OA

Objective:To observe the effect of moxibustion and moxa smoke on the airway inflammation in the asthmatic rats based on the p38MAPK/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway.Methods:Seventy SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups:the blank group,the model group,the moxibustion group,the smokeless moxibustion group,the moxa smoke inhalation group,the cigarette smoke inhalation group and the dexamethasone group,with 10 rats in each group.The asthma model was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin(OVA)and aluminum hydroxide suspension for sensitization and atomization of OVA solution(excitation).The rats in the moxibustion group were treated with the gentle moxibustion on bilateral'Feishu'(BL13),'Dazhui'(GV14)and bilateral'Fengmen'(BL12).In the smokeless moxibustion group,the generated moxa smoke was removed using a smoke exhaust machine during the moxibustion.The rats in the moxa smoke inhalation group and the cigarette smoke inhalation group were intervened with the moxa smoke and the cigarette smoke at the concentrations of 10 to 15 mg/m3,respectively.The rats in the above groups were intervened 30 min each time.The rats in the dexamethasone group were treated with the intraperitoneal injections of the dexamethasone sodium phosphate solution.The rats in the above groups were intervened once a day for 14 consecutive days.HE and PAS staining were used to assess pathological changes in lung tissues.ELISA was performed to measure the serum inflammatory factors,including the levels of interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-33,IL-13,inteferon γ(IFN)-γ.The water-soluble tetrazolium-1(WST-1)method was employed to measure the activity of total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD),the colorimetric method was employed to detect the activity of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)in the serum,and the thiobarbituric acid(TBA)method was employed to determine the level of malondialdehyde(MDA),Western Blot were used to detect the expression levels of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p-p38MAPK),p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase,nuclear factor-xB p65(NF-κB p65),NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC),and Caspase-1 proteins in lung tissues.RT-qPCR was used to measure the expression levels of p38MAPK,NF-κB p65,NLRP3,ASC and Caspase-1 mRNA in lung tissues.Results:Compared with the model group,inflammatory cells infiltrated,goblet cells and mucus secretion were significantly decreased in the lung tissues of the moxibustion group rats,the smokeless moxibustion group rats and the dexamethasone group rats;the levels of serum IL-1β,IL-33,IL-13 and MDA were significantly decreased,while the levels of serum IFN-γ,T-SOD and GSH-Px were significantly increased(P＜0.01);the protein expressions of p-p38MAPK,p38MAPK,NF-κB p65,NLRP3,ASC and Caspase-1 and the mRNA expressions of p38MAPK,NF-κB p65,NLRP3,ASC,and Caspase-1 in lung tissues were significantly down-regulated(P＜0.01).Compared with the smokeless moxibustion group,the moxibustion group showed statistical significance(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Moxibustion and moxa smoke may regulate the p38MAPK/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway,thereby reducing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β,IL-33,and IL-13,lowering MDA levels,enhancing the activity of T-SOD and GSH-Px,and inhibiting oxidative stress,ultimately ameliorating airway inflammation in asthma.