Association of high expression in rat gastric mucosal heat shock protein 70 induced by moxibustion pretreatment with protection against stress injury

Involvement of microRNA/cystine/glutamate transporter in cold-stressed gastric mucosa injury

Stress ulcers are complicated by severe trauma and other critical diseases, the mechanism of which remains unclear. An increasing number of studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of stress responses such as hypoxia, abnormal temperature, and inflammation. The evidence indicates that miRNAs are also involved in regulating stress-induced ulcers. Recently, we demonstrated that gastric mucosal injury induced by aspirin is related to the reduction of glutamate levels by inhibition of cystine/glutamate transporter (xCT) activity. In the present study, the effect of a miRNA/xCT on gastric mucosal injury induced by cold stimulation was investigated. We found that cold stimulation induced gastric mucosa injury with a reduction in glutamate levels and xCT activity and upregulation of miR-143, miR-152, and miR-181 expression. Exogenous glutamate significantly alleviated gastric mucosa injury by cold stimulation. In vitro experiments demonstrated that treatment with miR-143, miR-152, or miR-181 mimics directly induced cell damage. The effects of these mimics were alleviated by exogenous glutamate. The present study suggests that miR-143, miR-152, and miR-181 are involved in cold stimulation-induced acute gastric mucosal injury. Furthermore, the regulatory effect of miRNAs on gastric mucosa injury induced by cold stimulation is related to a decrease in glutamate release by reduction of cystine/glutamate transporter activity.

A randomized controlled protocol on the effect of moxibustion on the cardiac function and quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure

BACKGROUND

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is the final result of various cardiovascular diseases, with high morbidity and high mortality, which seriously threaten people's health and quality of life. It has become a public health problem in the world. There is currently no specific treatment. Moxibustion, as a complementary and replacement therapy, has advantages in the treatment of chronic heart failure, but it lacks standard clinical studies to verify it. Therefore, the purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effect of moxibustion on the heart function and quality of life of patients with CHF.

METHODS

This is a prospective randomized controlled trial to study the effect of moxibustion on the heart function and quality of life of patients with CHF. This is approved by the clinical research ethics committee of our hospital. Patients were randomly divided into observation group (moxibustion combined with Western medicine treatment group) or control group (conventional Western medicine treatment group). There is a follow-up for 3 months after 6 weeks of treatment. Observation indicators include total effective rate of cardiac function improvement, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire , left ventricular ejection fraction , N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide , 6-minute walk test , adverse reactions, etc. Data were analyzed using the statistical software package SPSS version 18.0 (Chicago, IL).

DISCUSSION

This study will evaluate the clinical efficacy of moxibustion in the treatment of CHF. The results of this study will provide a reliable reference for the clinical choice of moxibustion as an adjuvant treatment for chronic heart failure.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

OSF Registration number: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/29XE7.

Benzyl isothiocyanates modulate inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis via Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB signaling pathways on indomethacin-induced gastric injury in rats

The present study investigated the gastroprotective activity of benzyl isothiocyanates (BITC) on indomethacin (IND)-induced gastric injury in a rat model and explicated the possible involved biochemical, cellular, and molecular mechanisms. The rat model with gastric ulcers was established by a single oral dose of IND (30 mg per kg b.wt). BITC (0.75 and 1.5 mg kg^-1) and esomeprazole (20 mg per kg b.wt) were orally administered for 3 weeks to rats before the induction of gastric injury. Compared with the IND group, BITC could diminish both the macroscopic and microscopic pathological morphology of gastric mucosa. BITC significantly preserved the antioxidants (glutathione GSH, superoxide dismutase SOD), nitric oxide (NO), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) contents, while decreasing the gastric mucosal malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) contents. Moreover, BITC remarkably upregulated the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), hemoxygenase-1 (HO-1), and NAD(P)H : quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1). In addition, BITC activates the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP-70) and downregulated the expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and caspase-3 to promote gastric mucosal cell survival. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first published report to implicate the suppression of inflammation, oxidative stress, and Nrf2 signaling pathway as a potential mechanism for the gastroprotective activity of BITC.

Dynamic observation and analysis of metabolic response to moxibustion stimulation on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions (GML) rats

Background

Gastric mucosal lesion (GML) is the initiating pathological process in many refractory gastric diseases. And moxibustion is an increasingly popular alternative therapy that prevents and treats diseases. However, there are few published reports about developing pathology of GML and therapeutic mechanism of moxibustion treatment on GML. In this study, we investigated pathology of GML and therapeutic mechanism of moxibustion treatment on GML.

Methods

The male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were induced by intragastric administration of 75% ethanol after fasting for 24 h and treated by moxibustion at Zusanli (ST36) and Liangmen (ST21) for 1 day, 4 days or 7 days. Then we applied ¹H NMR-based metabolomics to dynamic analysis of metabolic profiles in biological samples (stomach, cerebral cortex and medulla). And the conventional histopathological examinations as well as metabolic pathways assays were also performed.

Results

Moxibustion intervention showed a beneficial effect on GML by modulating comprehensive metabolic alterations caused by GML, including energy metabolism, membrane metabolism, cellular active and neurotransmitters function.

Conclusions

Moxibustion can effectively treat gastric mucosal damage and effectively regulate the concentration of some related differential metabolites to maintain the stability of the metabolic pathway.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluvoxamine ameliorates stress- and NSAID-induced peptic ulcer possibly by involving Hsp70

Background Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have recently become potential candidates for a new therapeutic approach to ulcer and gastric bleeding. Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) plays an important role in cellular resistance to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, there is lack of evidence that fluvoxamine recruits Hsp70 to affect stress-induced gastric ulcer. Therefore, we investigated the effect of fluvoxamine on NSAID- and stress-induced gastric ulcer and the possible involvement of Hsp70. Methods ICR mice were used in the study. Stress induction was made by the water-immersion-plus-restraint method. NSAID-induced gastric ulcer was produced by oral administration of indomethacin. Fluvoxamine was given orally 30 min before stress induction and indomethacin treatment. Results Stress and indomethacin treatment significantly increased the ulcer index and intraluminal bleeding score. Stress and indomethacin treatment also significantly increased the expression of Hsp70. Fluvoxamine significantly decreased the ulcer index and intraluminal bleeding in both ulcer models. Moreover, fluvoxamine further increased the expression of Hsp70 in the gastric tissue of stress- and indomethacin-treated mice. Conclusions Our results indicate that fluvoxamine may have a protective effect against stress- as well as NSAID-induced gastric ulcer. In addition, the present study suggests the possible involvement of Hsp70 in the amelioration of gastric ulcer by fluvoxamine.

A Review of the Potential Effect of Electroacupuncture and Moxibustion on Cell Repair and Survival: The Role of Heat Shock Proteins

In recent years, a considerable amount of research has been focused on the underlying mechanisms of electroacupuncture and moxibustion assisted tissue repair. Intracellular protein denaturation is a significant pathological step of acute conditions such as stroke, myocardial infarction and acute pancreatitis. Protein aggregation can be observed after the protein denaturation step in chronic diseases of the central nervous system like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and also in other chronic system diseases including cataract formation. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are fundamental for intracellular protein repair and work by preventing protein aggregation and assisting denaturated proteins to refold. Further, HSPs can also function for extracellular cell signalling. The focus of this review is to analyse the data studying electroacupuncture and moxibustion induced HSPs, and how acupuncture can survive cells from apoptosis under stress.

Moxibustion for pain relief in patients with primary dysmenorrhea: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Though moxibustion is frequently used to treat primary dysmenorrhea in China, relevant evidence supporting its effectiveness is still scanty.

METHODS

This study was a pragmatic randomized, conventional drug controlled, open-labeled clinical trial. After initial screen, 152 eligible participants were averagely randomized to receive two different treatment strategies: Moxibustion and conventional drugs. Participants and practitioners were not blinded in this study. The duration of each treatment was 3 months. The primary outcome was pain relief measured by the Visual Analogue Scale. The menstrual pain severity was recorded in a menstrual pain diary.

RESULTS

152 eligible patients were included but only 133 of them eventually completed the whole treatment course. The results showed that the menstrual pain intensity in experimental group and control group was reduced from 6.38±1.28 and 6.41±1.29, respectively, at baseline, to 2.54±1.41 and 2.47±1.29 after treatment. The pain reduction was not significantly different between these two groups (P = 0.76), however; the pain intensity was significantly reduced relative to baseline for each group (P<0.01). Three months after treatment, the effectiveness of moxibustion sustained and started to be superior to the drug's effect (-0.87, 95%CI -1.32 to -0.42, P<0.01). Secondary outcome analyses showed that moxibustion was as effective as drugs in alleviating menstrual pain-related symptoms. The serum levels of pain mediators, such as PGF2α, OT, vWF, β-EP, PGE2, were significantly improved after treatment in both groups (P<0.05). No adverse events were reported in this trial.

CONCLUSIONS

Both moxibustion and conventional drug showed desirable merits in managing menstrual pain, given their treatment effects and economic costs. This study as a pragmatic trial only demonstrates the effectiveness, not the efficacy, of moxibustion for menstrual pain. It can't rule out the effect of psychological factors during treatment process, because no blind procedure or sham control was used due to availability. In clinical practice, moxibustion should be used at the discretion of patients and their physicians.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinialTrials.gov NCT01972906.

Moxibustion relieves visceral hyperalgesia via inhibition of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and heat shock protein (HSP) 70 expression in rat bone marrow cells

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of moxibustion on visceral hyperalgesia (VH) and bone marrow cell transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) and heat shock protein (HSP) 70 expression in a rat model of VH.

METHODS

Mechanical colorectal distension was performed to induce VH in neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats. Eight-week-old VH rats were treated with moxibustion at acupuncture point BL25 or an ipsilateral non-acupuncture point. Abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scoring and pain threshold pressure assessment were performed before and after moxibustion treatment for 7 consecutive days. The expression of TRPV1 and HSP70 in bone marrow cells was quantified by real-time quantitative PCR.

RESULTS

The expression of TRPV1 and HSP70 in bone marrow cells was increased in rats with VH. Moxibustion at BL25 significantly decreased AWR scores and increased pain threshold pressure in rats with VH. Furthermore, moxibustion at BL25 significantly inhibited the VH-induced increase in the expression of TRPV1 and HSP70 in bone marrow cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The up-regulation of TRPV1 and HSP70 expression in bone marrow cells may be involved in visceral pain development and the analgesic effect of moxibustion on VH may be mediated through down-regulation of TRPV1 and HSP70 expression in bone marrow cells.

PM10 mass concentration and oxidative capacity of moxa smoke

BACKGROUND

The burning of moxa floss in moxibustion releases moxa smoke containing a substantial amount of particulate matter (PM10) into the environment, which has generated safety concerns about its potential health impact.

DESIGN

Plasmid scission assay was performed using PM10 collected from moxibustion clinics.

METHODS

PM10 was collected in winter 2012 by burning three types of moxa floss samples in moxibustion simulation clinics, and the resulting PM10 mass concentration was calculated. Oxidative capacity of the PM10 samples was measured by plasmid scission assay and the percentage of DNA damage at dosage 500 µg ml(-1) (D500) was calculated by linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

The average PM10 mass concentration of samples A (3 years and 3:1 ratio), B (3 years and 8:1 ratio) and C (10 years and 3:1 ratio) was 273.33, 172.22 and 168.89 μg/m(3), respectively. The D500 oxidative capacity of PM10 was on average 24.25%, 27.83% and 28.07% for samples A, B and C, respectively. No significant difference was found in the PM10-induced oxidative damage by moxa smoke produced from the three types of moxa floss.

CONCLUSIONS

PM10 mass concentrations from the three types of moxa floss combustion exceeded internationally recommended levels. Despite so, PM10 mass concentration of moxa smoke was much lower than biomass and coal combustion and similar to that of gas combustion. The oxidative DNA damage induced by individual PM10 in moxibustion environment was lower than that reported in other environments, indicating that moxibustion-derived PM10 might not be as injurious to human health as generally assumed.

Isolation, structural elucidation, and biological evaluation of a 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural derivative, asfural, from enzyme-treated asparagus extract

A novel 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF; 1) derivative, which is named asfural (compound 2), was isolated from enzyme-treated asparagus extract (ETAS) along with HMF (1) as a heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) inducible compound. The structure of compound 2 was elucidated on the basis of its spectroscopic data from HREIMS and NMR, whereas the absolute configuration was determined using chiral HPLC analysis, compared to two synthesized compounds, (S)- and (R)-asfural. As a result, compound 2 derived from ETAS was assigned as (S)-(2-formylfuran-5-yl)methyl 5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate. When compound 2, synthesized (S)- and (R)-asfural, and HMF (1) were evaluated in terms of HSP70 mRNA expression-enhancing activity in HL-60 cells, compound 2 and (S)-asfural significantly increased the expression level in a concentration-dependent manner. HMF (1) also showed significant activity at 0.25 mg/mL.

Gastroprotective effect of desmosdumotin C isolated from Mitrella kentii against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal hemorrhage in rats: possible involvement of glutathione, heat-shock protein-70, sulfhydryl compounds, nitric oxide, and anti-Helicobacter pylori activity

BACKGROUND

Mitrella kentii (M. kentii) (Bl.) Miq, is a tree-climbing liana that belongs to the family Annonaceae. The plant is rich with isoquinoline alkaloids, terpenylated dihydrochalcones and benzoic acids and has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory activity. The purpose of this study is to assess the gastroprotective effects of desmosdumotin C (DES), a new isolated bioactive compound from M. kentii, on gastric ulcer models in rats.

METHODS

DES was isolated from the bark of M. kentii. Experimental rats were orally pretreated with 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg of the isolated compound and were subsequently subjected to absolute ethanol-induced acute gastric ulcer. Gross evaluation, mucus content, gastric acidity and histological gastric lesions were assessed in vivo. The effects of DES on the anti-oxidant system, non-protein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) content, nitric oxide (NO)level, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme activity, bcl-2-associated X (Bax) protein expression and Helicabacter pylori (H pylori) were also investigated.

RESULTS

DES pre-treatment at the administered doses significantly attenuated ethanol-induced gastric ulcer; this was observed by decreased gastric ulcer area, reduced or absence of edema and leucocytes infiltration compared to the ulcer control group. It was found that DES maintained glutathione (GSH) level, decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) level, increased NP-SH content and NO level and inhibited COX-2 activity. The compound up regulated heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70) and down regulated Bax protein expression in the ulcerated tissue. DES showed interesting anti-H pylori effects. The efficacy of DES was accomplished safely without any signs of toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study reveals that DES demonstrated gastroprotective effects which could be attributed to its antioxidant effect, activation of HSP-70 protein, intervention with COX-2 inflammatory pathway and potent anti H pylori effect.