Effects of Herb-Partitioned Moxibustion on Autophagy and Immune Activity in the Colon Tissue of Rats with Crohn’s Disease

Abstract

Objective. To investigate the mechanism of action of herb-partitioned moxibustion on CD from the perspective of autophagy and immunity. Methods. The expression of microtubule-associated protein LC3II and SQSTM1/p62 in the colon tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. Western blot was used to detect the expression of autophagic and immune-related proteins in the colon, such as LC3II, SQSTM1/p62, Beclin1, ATG16L1, NOD2, IRGM, IL-1β, IL-17, and TNF-β. mRNA levels of immune factors, such as IL-1β, IL-17, and TNF-β, and autophagy signaling molecules, such as PI3KC, AKT1, LKB1, and mTOR, were detected by RT-qPCR. Results. Herb-partitioned moxibustion reduced the protein levels of ATG16L1, NOD2, IRGM, LC3II, and Beclin1 ( $P<0.01$ ) and both the protein and mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-17, and TNF-β in CD rats ( $P<0.01$ or $P<0.05$ ), and it also increased the expression of SQSTM1/p62 protein ( $P<0.01$ ). The modulatory effects of herb-partitioned moxibustion on ATG16L1, NOD2, IRGM, LC3II, TNF-β, and IL-17 protein and IL-1β protein and mRNA were better than those of mesalazine ( $P<0.01$ or $P<0.05$ ). Herb-partitioned moxibustion also reduced colon PI3KC, AKT1, and LKB1 mRNA expressions in CD rats ( $P<0.01$ or $P<0.05$ ) and increased mTOR protein expression ( $P<0.05$ ). And the modulatory effect of herb-partitioned moxibustion on AKT1 mRNA was better than that of mesalazine ( $P<0.05$ ). Conclusion. Herb-partitioned moxibustion may inhibit excessively activated autophagy and modulate the expression of immune-related factors by regulating the LKB1-mTOR-PI3KC signal transduction networks, thereby alleviating intestinal inflammation in CD rats.