Effects of moxibustion on CD4+ T-cell proliferation by G6PD-mediated pentose phosphate pathway in adjuvant arthritis rats

• Published in: Journal of acupuncture and tuina science Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 273 - 279
• Main Authors: Zhang, Liang, Zhao, Lingyun, Long, Yiying, Cao, Jianan, Qu, Qirui, Wu, Qingze, Liu, Li, Chang, Xiaorong, Ai, Kun, Qi, Fang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Nature Singapore 01.08.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acupuncture; Arthritis; Basic Study; Cell growth; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Plasma; Spleen; CD4 淋巴细胞计数; A; Rats; 关节炎, 类风湿; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; R2-03; Arthritis, Experimental; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Moxibustion Therapy; 关节炎, 实验性; 大鼠; Nicotinamide-adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate; 灸法; 还原型烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷磷酸; 葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶; Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase
• ISSN: 1672-3597; 1993-0399
• DOI: 10.1007/s11726-024-1444-2

Objective To observe the effects of moxibustion on the levels of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) in the plasma and spleen and the CD4 + T-cell number in the spleen of rats with adjuvant arthritis, thus to explore the mechanism in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment with moxibustion by regulating the CD4 + T-cell proliferation through G6PD-mediated pentose phosphate pathway. Methods Twenty-seven male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, and a moxibustion group, with 9 rats in each group. Incomplete Freund’s adjuvant was used to induce inflammation in the model group and the moxibustion group. The blank group and the model group were not intervened. In the moxibustion group, suspended moxibustion was performed at bilateral Zusanli (ST36), Guanyuan (CV4), and Ashi points for 30 min, once a day for 24 times in total. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to evaluate the histopathological changes of rat synovial tissue; the swelling degree of the rat toes was observed by measuring the toe volume; G6PD and NADPH in the spleen and plasma were detected by Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Flow cytometry was used to detect the CD4 + T-cell number in the spleen. Results Compared with the blank group, the levels of G6PD and NADPH in the plasma and spleen and the CD4 + T-cell number in the spleen were significantly increased in the model group ( P <0.01 or P <0.05). Compared with the model group, the NADPH level in the spleen and plasma and the CD4 + T-cell number in the spleen in the moxibustion group decreased significantly ( P <0.05 or P <0.01), and the G6PD level in the plasma decreased significantly ( P <0.05), but there was no significant difference in the G6PD level in the spleen ( P >0.05). Conclusion Moxibustion can regulate immunity and improve joint synovial inflammation in RA. The mechanism may be that the G6PD-mediated pentose phosphate pathway reduces the production of metabolite NAPDH in CD4 + T cells, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of naive CD4 + T cells.