Herbs-Partitioned Moxibustion Combined with Acupuncture Inhibits TGF- β1-Smad-Snail-Induced Intestinal Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Crohn's Disease Model Rats.

This study indicated that abnormal increased expressions of TGFβ1, TβR2, Smad3, and Snail were significantly downregulated by herbs-partitioned moxibustion at Tianshu (ST25) and Qihai (RN6) and acupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) and Shangjuxu (ST37). In addition, protein and mRNA levels of E-cadherin, the epithelial cell marker, were significantly increased. Protein and mRNA levels of fibronectin, the mesenchymal cell marker, were decreased in the intestinal tissue. Moreover, the number of mesenchymal cells in the intestinal mucosa can be reversely transformed to intestinal epithelial cells. Therefore, herbs-partitioned moxibustion combined with acupuncture can prevent intestinal epithelial mesenchymal transition by inhibiting abnormal expression of TGFβ1, TβR2, Smad3, and Snail in the TGF-β1-Smad-Snail pathway in Crohn's disease. PMID: 31275422 [PubMed]
Source: Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Category: Complementary Medicine Tags: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Source Type: research