Moxibustion promotes endometrial repair in rats with thin endometrium by inhibiting the NLRP3/pyroptosis axis via upregulating miR-223-3p.
10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2025.07.04
- Author:
Haiyi ZHOU
1
;
Siyi HE
1
;
Ruifang HAN
1
;
Yongge GUAN
2
;
Lijuan DONG
;
Yang SONG
1
Author Information
1. School of Nursing, 2Lingnan Medical Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510000, China.
2. Department of Nursing, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan 510006, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Chinese medicine;
Guan Yuan acupoint;
miR-223-3p/NLRP3/pyroptosis signaling pathway;
moxibustion;
pyroptosis;
thin endometrium
- MeSH:
Animals;
Female;
MicroRNAs/genetics*;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism*;
Endometrium/pathology*;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley;
Rats;
Moxibustion;
Pyroptosis;
Up-Regulation;
Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*;
Interleukin-18;
Caspase 1/metabolism*
- From:
Journal of Southern Medical University
2025;45(7):1380-1388
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES:To explore the mechanism through which moxibustion promotes endometrial repair in rats with in thin endometrium (TE).
METHODS:Female SD rats were randomized into control group, 95% anhydrous ethanol-induced TE model group and moxibustion (at "Guan Yuan") group. High-throughput sequencing was used to identify the target genes of TE, and the targeting relationship between miR-223-3p and NLRP3 was verified using a dual luciferase assay. Histopathological of rat uterus was observed with HE staining, and expressions of miR-223-3p and NLRP3 were detected using RT-qPCR; serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 of the rats were detected using ELISA, and protein expressions of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and GSDMD in the uterus were detected with Western blotting. The pregnancies of the rats after treatment were counted.
RESULTS:Enrichment analysis of the differential genes suggested up-regulated inflammatory response in TE, and dual luciferase assay verified targeted inhibition of NLRP3 expression by miR-223-3p. The rat models of TE had significantly decreased endometrial thickness and reduced endometrial glands and blood vessels with enhanced mRNA expression of NLRP3, increased serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18, up-regulated protein expressions of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and GSDMD, lowered pregnancy rates on both the affected and unaffected sides and the overall number of pregnancies. Treatment of the rat models with mo-xibustion obviously increased the endometrial thickness and the density of glands and blood vessels, up-regulated miR-223-3p expression, lowered serum IL-1β and IL-18 levels and the protein expressions of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and GSDMD, and significantly increased the number of pregnancies.
CONCLUSIONS:Moxibustion at "Guan Yuan" acupoint up-regulates the expression of miR-223-3p, which results in targeted inhibition of NLRP3 to suppress pyroptosis and promote endometrial repair in rat models of TE.
