Objective To observe the effect of medicated thread moxibustion of Zhuang Minority medicine on helper T cell 17(Th17)/Interleukin-17 F(IL-17 F) signaling pathway in ulcerative colitis(UC) rats

so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of UC. Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control

model

medication and medicated thread moxibustion(MTM) groups

with 10 rats in each group. The UC model was induced by free drinking of 4% dextran sulfate sodium(DSS) for 10 d. After successful modeling

rats of the medication group were treated by gavage of salazosulfapyridine(SASP). Medicated thread moxibustion was applied to unilateral "Tianshu"(ST25) and "Qihai"(CV6) alternatively for rats of the MTM group

once daily for 14 d. The body mass

stool shape

and fecal occult test were recorded and conducted daily to perform disease activity index(DAI) score. H.E. staining was used to display pathological changes of the colon tissue. The Th17 cells and IL-17 F and retinoic acid related orphan receptor γ t(ROR-γt) in the colon tissue were detected by flow cytometry

and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)

respectively

and the expression levels of RORγt and IL-17 F mRNA in colon tissue were detected by quantitive real-time PCR. Results After modeling

the DAI score

colonic Th17 percentage

RORγt and IL-17 F contents

and RORγt and IL-17 F mRNA expression were significantly increased in the model group in contrast to the normal control group(P<0.01

P<0.05). Following the intervention

all the aforementioned indexes were reversed in both medication and MTM groups(P<0.01

P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the medication and MTM groups in the levels of the above mentioned indexes(P>0.05

except RORγt and IL-17 F mRNA expression). H.E. staining showed disappearance of goblet cells

infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells

exfoliation of the epithelial tissue and edema of colonic mucosal in rats of the model group

which was relatively milder in both medication and MTM groups. Conclusion Medicated thread moxibustion of Zhuang Minority medicine can reduce the inflammatory damage of colon tissue in UC rats

which is associated with its effects in suppressing the expression of RORγt

production of Th17 cells

and secretion of pro-inflammatory factor IL-17 F in colon tissue.