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The effect of herb-partition moxibustion on Toll-like receptor 4 in rabbit aorta during atherosclerosis
Zeng-Hui Yue1, Xin-Qun He, Xiao-Rong Chang
1College of Acu-Moxibustion and Tuina, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Objective:
To explore the mechanism of Toll-like receptor (TLR4) inhibition in the delay of formation of atherosclerosis by herb-partition moxibustion.
Method:
Seventy-five rabbits were randomly assigned to one of five groups: blank, atherosclerosis (AS) model, direct moxibustion, herb-partition moxibustion, and drug treatment. With the exception of the blank group, all rabbits were given a high-fat diet in addition to immunologic injury to create the AS model. The experiments were carried out for 16 weeks, at which time the aorta was removed from each rabbit. Immunohistochemical methods were used to detect the gray level of the aortic TLR4 to observe the immunologic competence of its antigens. Fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of TLR4 messenger RNA (mRNA) in the aorta.
Results:
The gray-scale value of TLR4 and the TLR4 mRNA expression significantly decreased (p<0.05) in the direct moxibustion, herb-partition moxibustion, and drug treatment groups. Furthermore, the effects of the herb-partition moxibustion and drug treatment were superior to those of the direct moxibustion.
Conclusion:
Herb-partition moxibustion inhibits aortic TLR4 activity and mRNA expression, showing that herb-partition moxibustion delays the formation of atherosclerosis through the inhibition of TLR4 expression.
Insights
Herb-partition moxibustion effectively reduces Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activity and expression, delaying atherosclerosis formation. This traditional therapy offers a promising approach for managing cardiovascular disease by inhibiting TLR4.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Immunology
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
Background:
- Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease.
- Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays a key role in the inflammatory processes underlying atherosclerosis.
- Novel therapeutic strategies are needed to inhibit TLR4 and prevent atherosclerosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism by which herb-partition moxibustion inhibits Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4).
- To determine if herb-partition moxibustion can delay the formation of atherosclerosis.
- To compare the efficacy of herb-partition moxibustion with direct moxibustion and drug treatment.
Main Methods:
- Seventy-five rabbits were used to model atherosclerosis using a high-fat diet and immunologic injury.
- Animals were divided into five groups: blank, atherosclerosis model, direct moxibustion, herb-partition moxibustion, and drug treatment.
- Aortic TLR4 protein expression (immunohistochemistry) and mRNA levels (fluorescent quantitative PCR) were measured after 16 weeks.
Main Results:
- Herb-partition moxibustion and drug treatment significantly reduced aortic TLR4 protein and mRNA expression compared to the atherosclerosis model (p<0.05).
- Direct moxibustion also decreased TLR4 expression, but to a lesser extent than herb-partition moxibustion or drug treatment.
- Herb-partition moxibustion and drug treatment demonstrated superior efficacy in inhibiting TLR4 compared to direct moxibustion.
Conclusions:
- Herb-partition moxibustion effectively inhibits TLR4 activity and expression in the aorta.
- This inhibition of TLR4 is the mechanism by which herb-partition moxibustion delays atherosclerosis formation.
- Herb-partition moxibustion presents a viable therapeutic option for preventing atherosclerosis.
