Objective To observe the effect of moxibustion on mRNA expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription 1(STAT 1)

suppressors of cytokine signaling(SOCS)in synovium of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)rats

and to investigate its mechanism for relieving RA.Methods 40 Wistar rats were equally and randomly divided into control

model

moxibustion

acupuncture and infrared groups(n=8in each group).RA model was developed by putting rats in windy

cold and damp room and injection of Freund's complete adjuvant.Bilateral"Shenshu"(BL 23)were stimulated by the respective means for20 min in duration

once every other day

ten times in total.The swelling degree of voix pedis(perimeter)of rats was measured.The contents of serum interleukin-1(IL-1)and interleukin-2(IL-2)were detected by radioimmunoassay

and expression of STAT 1

SOCS mRNA in synovium were assessed by RT-PCR.Results Rats in model group had acute and severe swelling of voix pedis

together with the increase of serum IL-1content and decrease of IL-2content

and down-regulation of mRNA expression of both STAT 1and SOCS in synovium(all P<0.01).All three modalities of treatment alleviated the swelling and reversed the relevant changes(P<0.05

P<0.01)

however

moxibustion produced greater effects than acupuncture or infrared in elevating IL-2content and up-regulating mRNA expression of both STAT 1and SOCS.Conclusion Moxibustion achieves the effects of anti-inflammation and joint swelling reduction of RA via decrease of IL-1

increase of IL-2in serum and up-regulation of STAT 1

SOCS mRNA expression in synovium.