A Study on the Mechanism of Moxibustion at Tianshu(ST25)Acupoint in Alleviating 5-FU-Induced Intestinal Mucositis via Regulating the PPARα-NF-κB/NLRP3 Signaling Pathway
10.13241/j.cnki.pmb.2025.14.001
- VernacularTitle:艾灸天枢穴通过调控PPARα-NF-κB/NLRP3信号通路改善5-FU诱导肠黏膜炎的机制研究
- Author:
Peng LIU
1
;
Meng-ying HONG
;
Bing-rong LI
;
Min-yu YAN
;
Bi-meng ZHANG
Author Information
1. 上海交通大学医学院附属第一人民医院针灸科 上海 200080
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Moxibustion;
Tianshu(ST25);
Intestinal mucositis;
PPARα;
NF-κB;
NLRP3 inflammasome
- From:
Progress in Modern Biomedicine
2025;25(14):2241-2249
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the effects of moxibustion at Tianshu(ST25)acupoint on 5-fluorouracil(5-FU)-induced intestinal mucositis(IM)and its underlying mechanisms.Methods:Eighteen C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into four groups:normal control(NC),IM model(IM),moxibustion 15 min(MO 15 min),and moxibustion 30 min(MO 30 min).The IM model was established via intraperitoneal injection of 5-FU.Pathological changes in colon tissues were observed using hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining.Protein expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha(PPARα),nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB),phosphorylated NF-κB(p-NF-κB),NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3),caspase-1,interleukin-1β(IL-1β),and interleukin-18(IL-18)were analyzed via Western blot,ELISA,and immunohistochemistry.Results:Compared with the NC group,the IM group showed significantly shortened colon length(P＜0.05),exhibited mucosal damage,inflammatory cell infiltration,and glandular disorder,along with upregulated protein expression of p-NF-κB,NLRP3,IL-1β,IL-18,and caspase-1(P＜0.05),and downregulated PPARα expression(P＜0.05).After moxibustion intervention,the MO 15 min group demonstrated increased intestinal length(P＜0.05),reduced pathological scores(P＜0.05),significantly downregulated expression of NLRP3,p-NF-κB,IL-1β,and IL-18(P＜0.05),and elevated PPARα expression(P＜0.05),while total NF-κB protein levels remained unchanged.Conclusion:Moxibustion at Tianshu(ST25)acupoint may alleviate 5-FU-induced intestinal mucosal inflammatory responses by activating PPARα to suppress the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway.
