Objective To observe the influence of suspended moxibustion on neutrophilic asthma related signal factors in asthma rats.Methods Thirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into normal control

model

dexamethasone(DEX)and suspended moxibustion(MOX)groups

with 8 rats in each group.The neutrophil granulocyte asthma model was made by intranasal instillation of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)

intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin(OVA)and inhalation of OVA

once a day for 14 d.After modeling

rats of the DEX group received intraperitoneal injection of DEX(0.5 mg/kg)

once daily for 14 d

and those of the MOX group treated by suspended MOX at"Danzhong"(CV 17)

and bilateral"Feishu"(BL 13)

"Pishu"(BL 20)

and"Shenshu"(BL 23)for 40 min

once a day

for 14 d.The total number of leukocytes and Wright's stain-displayed differential counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were counted

and the content of IL-17 in the BALF was assayed by ELISA.The contents of T-helper 17(Th 17)cells in the spleen and peripheral blood were detected using flow cytometry

and the expression of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma t(ROR-γt)mRNA and protein in the inferior lobe of the right lung were detected by quantitative real-time PCR

immunohistochemical stain and Western blot

respectively.Results Compared with the normal control group

the total number of leukocytes

the percentages of neutrophils

eosinophilis and lymphcytes and IL-17 content in the BALF

and Th 17 contents in the peripheral blood and spleen tissue were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.01).After the treatment

the total numbers of leukocytes

the percentages of neutrophils

eosinophils and lymphocytes and IL-17 contents in the BALF

and Th 17 contents in the peripheral blood and spleen tissues were down-regulated considerably in both the DEX and MOX groups(P<0.05

P <0.01).Immunohistochemical stain

real-time PCR and Western blot measurements showed that the expression levels of ROR-γt protein and mRNA in the lung tissues were notably higher in the model group than in the normal control group(P<0.01)

and significantly down-regulated in both DEX and MOX groups relevant to the model group(P<0.05

P<0.01).No significant differences were found between the DEX and MOX groups in all the aforementioned indexes(P>0.05)

except plasma Th 17(P<0.05).Conclusion Suspended moxibustion

being comparable to DEX treatment

can reduce the inflammatory reactions of neutrophilic asthma rats by down-regulating the expression of ROR-γt in the lung

and lowering IL-17 and neutrophils levels in the airway

and Th 17 in the peripheral blood and spleen.