OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of moxibustion arresting the pulmonary fibrosis and provide experimental basis for prevention and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis with acupuncture and moxibustion.

METHODSOne hundred and forty SD rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups: a blank group, a model group, a moxibustion group and a prednisone group, 35 rats in each group. The 3 groups expect the blank group were injected with bleomycin via trachea to induce experimental pulmonary fibrosis model, and 7 days after modeling, they were treated with moxibustion at bilateral Feishu (BL 13) and Gaohuang (BL 43), 3 cones each point, once each day, 10 days constituting one therapeutic course with an interval of one day between courses. After 3 courses, all rats were killed and expressions of TGF-beta1mRNA were detected with PCR method.

RESULTSThe content of TGF-beta1mRNA in the pulmonary tissue in the moxibustion group and the prednisone group was significantly lower than the model group (P < 0.01), and there was no significant difference between the moxibustion group and the prednisone group (P > 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONBoth moxibustion at Feishu (BL 13) and Gaohuang (BL 43), and prednisone treatment can significantly suppress the expression of TGF-beta1mRNA in the pulmonary tissue in the rat of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.