Objective: To explore the potential mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion in treating Crohn disease (CD) by evaluating the changes in histamine and inflammatory factors in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) of rats.Methods: Fifty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group (n=14) and a CD-modeling group (n=44). Rats in the CD-modeling group received enema with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid plus ethanol to establish CD models. The enema was repeated once every 7 d for a total of 4 times. After modeling, four modeled rats and four normal rats were randomly selected for model identification. After the CD model was successfully established, the remaining rats in the CD-modeling group were randomly divided into a model group, an acupuncture group, a moxibustion group, and a Western medication group, with ten rats in each group. The rats in the acupuncture and moxibustion groups were treated with acupuncture or moxibustion at Tianshu (ST25) and Shangjuxu (ST37); the rats in the Western medication group were treated with mesalazine enteric-coated tablets by gavage for continuous 7 d. After the intervention, the colon tissue of rats in each group was collected. After gross observation, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to further observe the pathological changes. The expression of histamine in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, IL-10, and IL-6 in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) was detected by Western blotting. Results: Compared with the normal group, the colonic wall of rats in the model group showed cobblestone-like changes, local ulcers, and polyps in dark red and thickening and hardening. HE staining showed local loss of mucosal epithelial layer and formation of slit-like ulcers, destruction of mucosal glands, edema, and infiltration of inflammatory cells in lamina propria and submucosa, and occasional formation of sarcoid-like granuloma. The levels of histamine and IL-6 were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the levels of TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-10 were significantly down- regulated (P<0.01 or P<0.05) in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) of rats in the model group. Compared with the model group, the pathomorphological damage of the colon tissue of rats in the acupuncture group, moxibustion group, and Western medication group was significantly improved. The levels of histamine and IL-6 were significantly down- regulated (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the level of IL-10 was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01) in the skin at Tianshu (ST25) of rats in the acupuncture group. The levels of histamine and IL-6 were significantly down-regulated (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the levels of TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-10 were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01 or P<0.05) in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) of rats in the moxibustion group. The level of histamine was significantly down-regulated (P<0.01), and the levels of IL-18 and IL-10 were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the skin tissue of rats in the Western medication group. Compared with the acupuncture group, the level of IL-10 in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) of rats in the moxibustion group was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01). Conclusion: The inflammatory responses in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) may be the external manifestation of CD. Significant differences in the regulation of inflammatory responses in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) between acupuncture and moxibustion exist, which may be caused by the differences in the stimulation characteristics between acupuncture and moxibustion.

Objective:To compare the effects of Feishu(BL13)combined with Tianshu(ST25)and Feishu(BL13)alone on pulmonary function and tissue inflammation in asthma model rats. Methods:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group,a lung treatment group,and a lung-intestine treatment group according to the random number table method,with 12 rats in each group.Except for the normal group,rats in the other three groups were sensitized by ovalbumin followed by atomization stimulation to establish the asthma model.After the model was made successfully,rats in the lung treatment group were treated with acupuncture at bilateral Feishu(BL13)for 30 min;rats in the lung-intestine treatment group were treated with acupuncture at bilateral Feishu(BL13)and Tianshu(ST25)for 15 min,respectively,for 30 min in total.Acupuncture was performed once a day for 14 d.Rats in the other two groups did not receive any intervention.After intervention,the pulmonary function of each group of rats was measured by a pulmonary function tester.The histopathological changes stained by hematoxylin-eosin staining and the collagen deposition degree stained by Masson in lung tissue,as well as the inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)stained by Wright's-Giemsa staining were observed under a light microscope;the levels of interleukin(IL)-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-17,IL-25,IL-33,leukotrienes(LT),thymic stromal lymphopoietin(TSLP),and prostaglandin D2(PGD2)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results:Compared with the normal group,the peak expiratory flow(PEF),the dynamic lung compliance(Cdyn),the forced expiratory flow 25%(FEF25%),the forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity(FEV1/FVC),and the maximum mid-expiratory flow(MMEF)in the model group were significantly decreased(P<0.01 or P<0.05);the lung resistance(RL),the collagen deposition,the IL-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-17,IL-33,LT,TSLP,and PGD2 levels,and the neutrophil proportion in the BALF were increased significantly(P<0.01 or P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the FEF25%and FEV1/FVC in the pulmonary function were significantly increased(P<0.01,P<0.05),while the collagen fiber deposition and the levels of IL-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-17,LT,TSLP,and PGD2 were significantly decreased(P<0.01 or P<0.05)in the lung treatment group;the PEF,FEF25%,and FEV1/FVC in pulmonary function were significantly increased(P<0.01 or P<0.05),while the RL and the collagen fiber deposition,as well as the neutrophil proportion and the levels of IL-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-17,IL-33,LT,TSLP,and PGD2 in the BALF were significantly decreased(P<0.01 or P<0.05)in the lung-intestine treatment group.Compared with the lung treatment group,the IL-5 level in the rat lung tissue of the lung-intestine treatment group was decreased(P<0.05). Conclusion:Acupuncture in the lung treatment and the lung-intestine treatment groups improved pulmonary function,lung inflammation,and inflammatory cells in the BALF in asthma model rats;the lung-intestine treatment was better than lung treatment in improving the IL-5 level.The combination of Feishu(BL13)and Tianshu(ST25)was superior to Feishu(BL13)alone in the treatment of asthma in trend.