Moxibustion Alleviates Injury in a Rat Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis Model
Moxibustion Alleviates Injury in a Rat Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis Model
Yi Li,1 Yuxia Sun,1 Chunling Zhang,2 Ke Wang,3 Peicheng Shen,1 Di Huang,4 Wen Ma,5 Jin Zhang,6 Lin Li,1 and Liqun He1
1Department of Nephrology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200021, China
2Department of Cardiology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
3Laboratory of Integrative Medicine Surgery, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
4Department of Nephrology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine Institute of Kidney Disease, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
5Acupuncture Anesthesia Research Section, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200021, China
6Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
Correspondence should be addressed to Liqun He; moc.361@95nuqileh
Received 19 February 2017; Accepted 9 April 2017; Published 28 May 2017
Academic Editor: Thomas Lundeberg
Copyright © 2017 Yi Li et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Objectives. To evaluate the therapeutic effects of moxibustion at Shenshu (BL-23) and Geshu (BL-17) acupoints in a focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) model in rats. Methods. A FSGS rat model was established by single nephrectomy and repeated injection of doxorubicin. The FSGS rats were randomly divided into the model group, losartan (positive control) group, Shenshu moxibustion group, and Geshu moxibustion group. Molecular indicators of kidney function and renal pathological changes were monitored. Results. Urinary protein, serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, and serum uric acid were significantly reduced after 12-week intervention with losartan, Shenshu, or Geshu moxibustion. Renal α-SMA, FN, and TGF-β were also decreased, while podocin and nephrin protein and mRNA were increased. The pathological damage in renal tissue was obviously alleviated by all three treatments, which suggests that moxibustion may have similar efficacy to losartan in the treatment of FSGS. Conclusion. Moxibustion alleviates podocyte injury and inhibits renal interstitial fibrosis in the FSGS rat model, thereby minimizing the progression of glomerular sclerosis and improving renal function.
1. Introduction
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is characterized by scarring to a subset of the glomeruli of the kidney and can occur as a result of infection, drugs, or systematic diseases such as diabetes or lupus or other glomerular diseases. The main clinical manifestation of FSGS is proteinuria. The severity of the proteinuria and the response to treatment are closely associated with the kidney prognosis, and patients with nephrotic syndrome are prone to develop end stage renal disease [1–3]. Therefore, the primary goal of FSGS treatment is to reduce proteinuria in a short time to protect the kidney [4, 5].
In recent years, traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have been considered as effective treatments for a variety of different physical conditions, including renal diseases. Acupuncture and moxibustion are thought to contribute to disease treatment by stimulating the surface of meridian acupoints. Compared to acupuncture, moxibustion is motivated by “warm stimulation.” The main material for moxibustion therapy is moxa wool, which is used to construct cones or sticks. The moxa sticks or cones are ignited prior to application on the surface of meridian acupoints via scarring or nonscarring methods. However, rigorous, randomized controlled trials of moxibustion have not been described, which may account for the poor awareness of this therapy method.
Nevertheless, animal experiments support the potential role of both acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of renal diseases. Paterno et al. [6] demonstrated that electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST-36) and Taixi (KI-3) acupoints and moxibustion at the Shenshu (BL-23) acupoint improve the serum creatinine, 24-h urinary protein, glomerulosclerosis, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis in a 5/6 nephrectomy rat model. Further study by this group [7] showed that the treatment mechanism may be related to the regulation of renal sympathetic nerve activity and nitric oxide levels and the reduction of arterial blood pressure. The potential role of nitric oxide release from nerves has also been noted in the response to local thermal stimulation on Riyue (GB-24), Weizhong (BL-40), and Chengfu (BL-36) acupoints to inhibit the physi (...truncated)