Objective To observe the effect of different moxibustion intervention on expression of interleukin-1(IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the synovial fluid of hind-knee joint in rheumatoid arthritis(RA) rabbits.Methods Forty Japanese big-ear white rabbits(half male and half female) were randomized into normal control

RA model

direct-moxibustion

ginger-partitioned moxibustion and warm moxibustion groups(n=8).RA model was established by injection of Freund's Complete Adjuvant(0.5 mL/kg) into the articular cavities of the rabbits' bilateral hind-limbs.Moxibustion intervention was applied to unilateral "Shenshu"(BL 23) and "Zusanli"(ST 36) regions alternatively for 20 min from the 7thday on after modeling

once daily for 3 weeks except Sundays.The circumference of the hindlimb-knee joint was measured using a tape measure and the contents of IL-1 and TNF-α in the synovial fluid of articular cavities were detected by ELISA.Results In comparison with the normal control group

the circumference values of the bilateral hind-knee joints

and the contents of IL-1 and TNF-α in the synovial fluid of articular cavities in the model group were significantly increased(P<0.01).After the moxibustion treatment

compared with the model group

the circumference values of the bilateral hind-knee joints

and IL-1 and TNF-α contents of the synovial fluid in the warm moxibustion

direct moxibustion and ginger-partitioned moxibustion groups were remarkably reduced(P<0.01

P<0.05).The effects of the ginger-partitioned group were significantly superior to those of both warm moxibustion and direct moxibustion groups in decreasing the swelled hind-knee joint circumference on day 21 after the treatment and down-regulating synovial fluid inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and TNF-α levels(P<0.05).Conclusion Warm

direct and ginger-separated moxibustion interventions all can reduce inflammatory reactions of the knee-joint and suppress inflammatory cytokine IL-1 and TNF-α levels of the synovial fluid in RA rabbits

which may contribute to its effect in improving RA in clinic.The therapeutic effect of ginger-partitioned muxibustion intervention is apparently better.