Effect of Moxibustion on HIF-1α and VEGF Levels in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background. Moxibustion has a therapeutic effect of reducing swelling and relieving pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but its mechanism is uncertain. Objective. To evaluate the effect of moxibustion on serum levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth...

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Main Authors: Yuanyuan Gong, Zeyun Yu, Yingni Wang, Yan Xiong, Yumei Zhou, Chen-xi Liao, Yuan Li, Yun Luo, Yu Bai, Bailu Chen, Yuzhi Tang, Ping Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Pain Research and Management
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/4705247
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author Yuanyuan Gong
Zeyun Yu
Yingni Wang
Yan Xiong
Yumei Zhou
Chen-xi Liao
Yuan Li
Yun Luo
Yu Bai
Bailu Chen
Yuzhi Tang
Ping Wu
author_facet Yuanyuan Gong
Zeyun Yu
Yingni Wang
Yan Xiong
Yumei Zhou
Chen-xi Liao
Yuan Li
Yun Luo
Yu Bai
Bailu Chen
Yuzhi Tang
Ping Wu
author_sort Yuanyuan Gong
collection DOAJ
description Background. Moxibustion has a therapeutic effect of reducing swelling and relieving pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but its mechanism is uncertain. Objective. To evaluate the effect of moxibustion on serum levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with RA and to explore the possible mechanism of moxibustion. Methods. This study involved 46 RA patients who had fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to a treatment group and a control group in an equal ratio. The control group was treated with methotrexate or leflunomide, while the treatment group received methotrexate or leflunomide and moxibustion at ST 36 (Zusanli), BL 23 (Shenshu), and Ashi points. Patients’ clinical symptoms, RA-associated serum markers, and serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, HIF-1α, and VEGF were compared in the two groups before and after intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 21.0 statistical software. Results. 37 of 46 RA patients eventually completed the whole treatment course. Compared with the control group, the treatment group significantly improved the clinical symptoms (P<0.05) but with no significant differences in RA-associated serum markers (P>0.05). There were significant differences in TNF-α and IL-1β among the groups after 8 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). HIF-1α and VEGF were decreased in the treatment group after therapy (P<0.05). VEGF was reduced in the control group (P<0.05), while HIF-1α was not significantly improved (P>0.05). The reductions of HIF-1α and VEGF in the treatment group were superior to the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions. Moxibustion enhanced the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of conventional medicine and can enhance the effect of conventional medicine, downregulating HIF-1α/VEGF contents to inhibit angiogenesis.
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spelling doaj-art-6cc77788e4784d0ca583beb032b7e7852025-08-20T03:34:09ZengWileyPain Research and Management1203-67651918-15232019-01-01201910.1155/2019/47052474705247Effect of Moxibustion on HIF-1α and VEGF Levels in Patients with Rheumatoid ArthritisYuanyuan Gong0Zeyun Yu1Yingni Wang2Yan Xiong3Yumei Zhou4Chen-xi Liao5Yuan Li6Yun Luo7Yu Bai8Bailu Chen9Yuzhi Tang10Ping Wu11Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan, Chengdu 610075, ChinaChengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan, Chengdu 610075, ChinaChengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan, Chengdu 610075, ChinaDazhou Central Hospital, Sichuan, Dazhou 635000, ChinaThe Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, No.1 Fuhua Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, GuangDong 518033, ChinaChengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan, Chengdu 610075, ChinaThe First Teaching Hospital, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan, Chengdu 610075, ChinaChengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan, Chengdu 610075, ChinaJiangyou Second People’s Hospital, Sichuan, Jiangyou 621702, ChinaDepartment of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Hospital (T.C.M) Affiliated to Southwest Medical University, Sichuan, Luzhou 646000, ChinaChengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan, Chengdu 610075, ChinaChengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan, Chengdu 610075, ChinaBackground. Moxibustion has a therapeutic effect of reducing swelling and relieving pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but its mechanism is uncertain. Objective. To evaluate the effect of moxibustion on serum levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with RA and to explore the possible mechanism of moxibustion. Methods. This study involved 46 RA patients who had fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to a treatment group and a control group in an equal ratio. The control group was treated with methotrexate or leflunomide, while the treatment group received methotrexate or leflunomide and moxibustion at ST 36 (Zusanli), BL 23 (Shenshu), and Ashi points. Patients’ clinical symptoms, RA-associated serum markers, and serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, HIF-1α, and VEGF were compared in the two groups before and after intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 21.0 statistical software. Results. 37 of 46 RA patients eventually completed the whole treatment course. Compared with the control group, the treatment group significantly improved the clinical symptoms (P<0.05) but with no significant differences in RA-associated serum markers (P>0.05). There were significant differences in TNF-α and IL-1β among the groups after 8 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). HIF-1α and VEGF were decreased in the treatment group after therapy (P<0.05). VEGF was reduced in the control group (P<0.05), while HIF-1α was not significantly improved (P>0.05). The reductions of HIF-1α and VEGF in the treatment group were superior to the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions. Moxibustion enhanced the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of conventional medicine and can enhance the effect of conventional medicine, downregulating HIF-1α/VEGF contents to inhibit angiogenesis.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/4705247
spellingShingle Yuanyuan Gong
Zeyun Yu
Yingni Wang
Yan Xiong
Yumei Zhou
Chen-xi Liao
Yuan Li
Yun Luo
Yu Bai
Bailu Chen
Yuzhi Tang
Ping Wu
Effect of Moxibustion on HIF-1α and VEGF Levels in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Pain Research and Management
title Effect of Moxibustion on HIF-1α and VEGF Levels in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
title_full Effect of Moxibustion on HIF-1α and VEGF Levels in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
title_fullStr Effect of Moxibustion on HIF-1α and VEGF Levels in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Moxibustion on HIF-1α and VEGF Levels in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
title_short Effect of Moxibustion on HIF-1α and VEGF Levels in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
title_sort effect of moxibustion on hif 1α and vegf levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/4705247
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