Mechanism of Herbal Cake-separated Moxibustion in Improving Neuroimmune Inflammation in Rats with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Interfering TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Pathway
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20241140
- VernacularTitle:隔药饼灸干预TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB通路改善慢性疲劳综合征大鼠神经免疫炎症的作用机制
- Author:
Chuntao ZHAI
1
;
Yawei HOU
1
;
Linjuan SHI
1
;
Yixiao WANG
1
;
Wei LI
1
;
Yuefeng TIAN
1
Author Information
1. Second Clinical College of Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine， Jinzhong 030619，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
herbal cake-separated moxibustion;
neuroimmune inflammation;
chronic fatigue syndrome （CFS）;
Xiaoyaosan
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2025;31(4):140-149
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of herbal cake-separated moxibustion using the classical formula Xiaoyaosan in alleviating neuroimmune inflammatory responses in chronic fatigue syndrome （CFS） rats， based on the regulation of the toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）/nuclear transcription factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway. MethodsFifty SPF-grade SD rats aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into five groups： Normal group， model group， sham herbal cake moxibustion group， Chinese medicine intragastric administration group， and herbal cake-separated moxibustion group， with 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group， all other groups underwent a 21-day modeling process， followed by behavioral testing. The herbal cake-separated moxibustion and sham herbal cake moxibustion groups received interventions at the Shenque （CV8）， Guanyuan （CV4）， Zusanli （ST36）， and Qimen （LR14） acupoints. The Chinese medicine intragastric administration group was treated with a Xiaoyaosan suspension via gavage. Behavioral tests were conducted after 10 days of continuous intervention. Serum levels of interleukin （IL）-1β， IL-6， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， as well as hippocampal levels of IL-1β， IL-6， TNF-α， and NF-κB， were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Morphological changes in the hippocampus were observed using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect mRNA expression levels of TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB in the hippocampus. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the relative expression levels of TLR4， MyD88， NF-κB， and p65 proteins in the hippocampus. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed a significant decrease in upright times during the open field test （P<0.01）， as well as significant reductions in total movement distance， resting time， and center region duration （P<0.01）. In the tail suspension test， immobility time increased （P<0.01）， and struggle times decreased （P<0.01）. Serum and hippocampal levels of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α， as well as hippocampal NF-κB levels and TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB mRNA expression， were significantly elevated （P<0.01）. After treatment， compared with the model group， the total movement distance and upright times in the open field test were significantly increased in all treatment groups （P<0.01）， while resting time and center region duration were notably prolonged （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Immobility time in the tail suspension test was significantly shortened （P<0.01）， and struggle times significantly increased （P<0.05）. Serum and hippocampal levels of IL-1β， IL-6， TNF-α， hippocampal NF-κB levels， and TLR4 and NF-κB mRNA expression were significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the sham herbal cake moxibustion group， the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group showed a significant extension in center region duration during the open field test （P<0.05） and a significant increase in upright times （P<0.01）. In the tail suspension test， immobility time was reduced （P<0.01）， and struggle times increased （P<0.01）. Serum TNF-α levels in the Chinese medicine intragastric administration group were significantly reduced （P<0.01）， while serum IL-6 levels， as well as hippocampal levels of IL-1β， TNF-α， NF-κB， and TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB mRNA expression， were significantly decreased in both the Chinese medicine intragastric administration group and the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the Chinese medicine intragastric administration group， the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group exhibited significantly increased upright times in the open field test （P<0.01）. In the tail suspension test， immobility time was reduced （P<0.01）， and struggle times increased （P<0.01）. Serum IL-1β， hippocampal TNF-α levels， and TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB mRNA expression were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionHerbal cake-separated moxibustion effectively improves fatigue and memory function in CFS rats， regulates neuroimmune inflammatory responses， and its mechanism may be related to the modulation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.
