Effect of Moxibustion on the Serum Levels of MMP-1, MMP-3, and VEGF in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Overview

Journal Evid Based Complement Alternat Med

Specialty Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2020 Oct 5

PMID 33014110

Citations 11

Authors

Zeyun Yu

Yingni Wang

Yuan Li

Chenxi Liao

Jingyang Dai

Yun Luo

Yuanzhang Hu

Siyu Tao

Jie Tang

Guanhua Chen

Ping Wu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease, which will eventually lead to joints deformity and functional damage. The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of moxibustion on the serum indicators related to bone and cartilage metabolism, matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with RA and to explore the mechanism of moxibustion in the treatment of RA.

Methods: We recruited 70 RA patients who met the inclusion criteria, and they were randomly divided into two groups, a treatment group and a control group in equal ratio. The control group took methotrexate, folate, or leflunomide orally, while the treatment group received methotrexate, folate, or leflunomide orally and moxibustion at ST36 (Zusanli), BL23 (Shen shu), and Ashi points. We compared the clinical symptoms, RA serological disease markers and serum contents of interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-), MMP-1, MMP-3, and VEGF of RA patients before and after treatment.

Results: (1) The clinical symptoms and RA serological disease markers of the two groups improved after treatment ( < 0.05), while the clinical symptoms of the treatment group were significantly improved in comparison with the control group ( < 0.05). (2) The levels of IL-1, TNF- and VEGF decreased in both groups after treatment ( < 0.05), but the treatment group was significantly decreased compared with the control group ( < 0.05). (3) There were significant differences in MMP-1 and MMP-3 contents after treatment in the treatment group ( < 0.05, < 0.05), while there were no significant differences in the control group ( > 0.05, > 0.05). Above all, the contents of IL-1, TNF-, MMP-1, MMP-3, and VEGF in the treatment group decreased more significantly than those in the control group ( < 0.05).

Conclusion: The improvement effect of moxibustion on the clinical symptoms of RA patients may be related to influence on the contents of IL-1, TNF-, MMP-1, MMP-3, and VEGF, and moxibustion may play a potential role in bone protection.

Citing Articles

Moxibustion inhibits the macrophage M1 polarization toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor 88/nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway by regulating T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-containing protein-3 in rheumatoid arthritis.

Kun L, Yumei Z, Yanding G, Linlin Z, Danhui H, Wenbin M J Tradit Chin Med. 2024; 44(6):1227-1235.

PMID: 39617708 PMC: 11589562. DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2024.06.009.

Moxibustion Regulates the Expression of T Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis Through Tim-3/Gal-9 Signaling Pathway.

Zhong Y, Luo K, Guo Y, Gao X, Zhou H Rejuvenation Res. 2024; 28(1):17-24.

PMID: 39446757 PMC: 11844223. DOI: 10.1089/rej.2024.0052.

Moxibustion of Zusanli (ST36) and Shenshu (BL23) alleviates the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis in rats through regulating macrophage migration inhibitory factor/glucocorticoids signaling.

Linlin Z, Yumei Z, Wenting L, Yanan S, Yanding G, Xiaochao L J Tradit Chin Med. 2024; 44(2):353-361.

PMID: 38504541 PMC: 10927400. DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20220602.001.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Dietary Polyphenols through Inhibitory Activity against Metalloproteinases.

Suzuki T, Ohishi T, Tanabe H, Miyoshi N, Nakamura Y Molecules. 2023; 28(14).

PMID: 37513300 PMC: 10385587. DOI: 10.3390/molecules28145426.

Efficacy of Moxa-burning heat stimulating Zusanli (ST36) and Shenshu (BL23) on expressions of macrophage migration inhibitory factor and macrophage apoptosis in rabbits with adjuvant-induced arthritis.

Haiyan Z, Yumei Z, Xiuhua G, Fei W, Min J, Xin Y J Tradit Chin Med. 2022; 42(6):980-987.

PMID: 36378057 PMC: 9924787. DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20220817.001.

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