Effect of moxibustion treatment on expression of NF-κB and IκBα in peripheral blood monocytes of rats with Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis

Aim: To explore the effect of moxibustion treatment on gastric inflammatory injury and expression of NF-κB and IκBα in peripheral blood monocytes of rats with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-associated gastritis, to reveal the mechanisms underlying the protective effect of moxibustion treatment against gastric inflammatory injury. Methods: Fifty healthy rats were randomly divided into five groups, namely, a control group (A), a H. pylori model group (B), a moxibustion at acupoints group (C), a moxibustion at nonacupoints group (D) and an electro-acupuncture group (E). Gastritis was induced by oral gavage with live H. pylori. The expression of NF-κB and IκBα in peripheral blood monocytes was detected by Western blot. Results: Compared to group A, gastric mucosal inflammation score and expression of NF-κB in monocytes were significantly increased (0 ± 2.0 vs 2.5 ± 2.5, 0.54 ± 0.11/β-actin vs 0.36 ± 0.13/ β-actin, both P < 0.01), and expression of IκBα in monocytes was significantly decreased in group B (0.21 ± 0.03/β-actin vs 0.65 ± 0.18/β-actin, P < 0.01). Compared to group B, gastric mucosal inflammation score and expression of NF-κB in monocytes were significantly decreased (2.5 ± 2.5 vs 0 ± 2.00, 0.36 ± 0.13/β-actin vs 0.50 ± 0.04/ β-actin, both P < 0.01), and expression of IκBα in monocytes was significantly increased in group C (0.65 ± 0.18/β-actin vs 0.24 ± 0.06/β-actin, P < 0.01). Compared to group D, gastric mucosal inflammation score and expression of NF-κB in monocytes were significantly decreased (3.00 ± 2.5 vs 0 ± 2.00, 0.36 ± 0.12/β-actin vs 0.50 ± 0.04/ β-actin, both P < 0.01), and expression of IκBα in monocytes was significantly increased in group C (0.64 ± 0.19/β-actin vs 0.24 ± 0.06/β-actin, P < 0.01). Compared to group E, gastric mucosal inflammation score and expression of NF-κB in monocytes were significantly decreased (3 ± 2.75 vs 0 ± 2.00, 0.35 ± 0.10/β-actin vs 0.50 ± 0.04/ β-actin, both P < 0.01), and expression of IκBα in monocytes was significantly increased in group C (0.52 ± 0.17/β-actin vs 0.24 ± 0.06/β-actin, P < 0.01). Conclusion: Moxibustion at acupoints can reduce H. pylori-induced gastric mucosal inflammatory injury possibly via mechanisms associated with reducing NF-κB expression in monocytes and decreasing the release of inflammatory cytokines. © 2013 Baishideng. All rights reserved.