Exploration on the mechanism of moxibustion in treating diarrhea and protecting the intestinal barrier based on the mitochondrial ANT2/mPTP pathway
10.3760/cma.j.cn115398-20250219-00249
- VernacularTitle:基于线粒体ANT2/mPTP通路探讨艾灸治疗腹泻及其保护肠屏障的作用机制
- Author:
Qianqian LI
1
;
Chanjuan SUN
Author Information
1. 河南中医药大学2022级硕士研究生，郑州 450000
- Keywords:
Diarrhea;
Moxibustion;
Mitochondrial energy metabolism;
Intestinal barrier;
ANT2/mPTP pathway;
Rats
- From:
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2025;47(10):1391-1397
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect of moxibustion on rats with acute diarrhea; To explore its potential mechanism in protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier.Methods:Totally 40 SD rats were divided into four groups: normal group, model group, moxibustion group, and montmorillonite powder group according to random number table method, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, the remaining groups were established as acute diarrhea models using senna leaf decoction administered via gavage combined with cold stimulation. The moxibustion group received suspended moxibustion on bilateral "Tianshu"(Point ST25) and "Shangjuxu"(Point ST37) acupoints, while the montmorillonite powder group was administered 0.81 g/kg of montmorillonite powder via gavage. The normal and model groups received an equal volume of normal saline via gavage, once daily for 7 consecutive days. The diarrhea status of the rats was observed, and the loose stool rate and diarrhea index were calculated. HE staining was used to observe pathological damage to the colonic mucosa. ELISA was employed to measure serum diamine oxidase (DAO) and D-lactate levels. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expressions of colonic tight junction proteins (Occludin) and cytoplasmic tight junction protein 1 (ZO-1). Chemiluminescence was used to measure adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the colon. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe changes in mitochondrial morphology in colonic mucosal cells. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of adenosine nucleotide translocator 2 (ANT2), cyclophilin D, and voltage-dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2) in the colon.Results:Compared with the model group, the moxibustion and montmorillonite powder groups showed decreased loose stool rate, diarrhea index, and serum DAO and D-lactate levels ( P<0.05); the length of colonic mucosal villi increased ( P<0.05), while crypt depth decreased ( P<0.05); the protein expressions of colonic mucosal Occludin and ZO-1 increased ( P<0.05), ATP content increased ( P<0.05), ROS content decreased ( P<0.05), and the protein expressions of colonic mucosal ANT2, cyclophilin D, and VDAC2 decreased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Moxibustion can improve acute diarrhea in rats and protect the intestinal barrier, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the mitochondrial ANT2/mPTP pathway.
