Objective:To observe the effect of moxibustion on Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription(JAK-STAT)pathway of synovial cells in rheumatoid arthritis(RA)rabbits for revealing the underlying mechanism of moxibustion in the treatment of RA.Methods:A total of 30 rabbits(Japanese Big-ear White species)were randomized(stratified random)into control

model and moxibustion groups with 10 cases in each.RA model was established by injection of Freund's Complete Adjuvant(FCA

0.5 mL/kg)into the animal's bilateral joint cavities.Moxibustion was applied to bilateral “Shenshu”(BL 23)

5 cones every time

once daily(except Sundays)

3 weeks altogether.The synovial tissue of joint was sampled for analyzing the expression of signal molecules associated with JAK-STAT pathway with gene chip and bioinformation analytical techniques.Results:Compared with normal control group

the perimeters of both knee joints in model group increased significantly from the 3rd day to 21st day after injection of FCA(P<0.01)

while compared with model group

those in moxibustion group decreased considerably from the 6th day on(P<0.05

0.01).In comparison with control group

JAK-STAT pathway-associated genes with up-regulated expression in model group were C/EBP beta

CBP

CRP

GATA3

IFNAR1

IFNAR2

IFNGR2

IL-10Rb

INDO

SH2B

STAT3

STAT6

JAK3 and GP130

and those with down-regulated expression were A2M

MIG and IL-2Rr

sugges-ting an abnormal activation of JAK-STAT pathway;while in comparison with model group

the related gene up-regulated in moxibustion group in the expression was IL22R and those down-regulated were Cyclin D1

C/EBP beta

CRP

GATA3

IFNAR2

INDO

JAK2

JAK3

V-JUN

STAT3

STAT5

SH2B and OSM

showing that moxibustion had an apparent inhibitory effect on AR-induced abnormal activation of some genes as C/EBP beta

GATA3

IFNAR2

INDO

etc..Conclusion:Moxibustion can resist inflammation and eliminate swelling in RA rabbits

which may be closely with its effect in inhibiting abnormal activation of JAK-STAT pathway in synovial cells.