Objective To observe the effect of mild moxibustion on blood lipid

histopathological structure of the aortic arch

thoracic aortic silent information regulator 1(SIRT1)/nuclear factor κB(NF-κB) signaling pathway in atherosclerosis(AS) rabbits

so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in improving AS. Methods Sixty male rabbits were randomly divided into control group(n=12)

model group(n=11)

mild moxibustion group(n=11)

mild moxibustion + blocker(blocker) group(n=12). The AS model was established by feeding the rabbits with high-fat forage for 8 weeks

followed by immune response damage. Mild moxibustion was applied to “Danzhong”(CV17)

“Shenque”(CV8) and “Neiguan”(PC6

bilateral) and “Xuehai”(SP10

bilateral) for 30 min

once daily

3 times a week for 4 weeks. Rabbits of the blocker group received intraperitoneal injection of EX527(a selective inhibitor of SIRT1

5 mg·kg

(-1)

·d(-1)·d

(-1)

) 30 min before moxibustion. Rabbits of the control and model groups were only grabbed and fixed without intervention. After the intervention

the contents of serum triglyceride(TG) and total cholesterol(TC) were determined by enzymatic method

and those of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) were determined by colorimetric method. The Sudan Ⅳ staining was employed to observe the histopathological structure of the aortic arch

and Western blot and fluorescence quantitative real time-PCR were used to detect the expressions of SIRT1 and NF-κB proteins and mRNAs in the thoracic aorta

respectively. Results Compared with the control group

the contents of serum TG

TC and LDL-C and the expression levels of NF-κB protein and mRNA were significantly increased(P

<

0.01

P

<

0.05)

whereas the content of HDL-C and the expression of SIRT1 mRNA markedly decreased in the model group(P

<

0.01). After mild moxibustion

the contents of serum TG

TC

and LDL-C and the expression of NF-κB protein and mRNA were significantly down-regulated(P

<

0.01

P

<

0.05)

while the content of HDL-C and the expression levels of SIRT1 protein and mRNA significantly up-regulated in the mild moxibustion group(P

<

0.05

P

<

0.01). There were no significant differences between the blocker and model groups in all the indexes(P

>

0.05). Compared with the mild moxibustion group

the serum TG

TC

and LDL-C contents and NF-κB protein expression were significantly increased(P

<

0.01

P

<

0.05)

and HDL-C content and the expression of SIRT1 protein and mRNA significantly decreased(P

<

0.05

P

<

0.01) in the blocker group. Sudan Ⅳ staining showed vague structure of the aortic arch with obvious lipid infiltration in the model group

which was relatively milder in the mild moxibustion. Conclusion Mild-moxibustion can reduce blood lipid levels and endothelial damage in atherosclerotic rabbits

which may be related to its function in regulating SIRT1/NF-κB signaling pathway.