Objective To observe the effect of moxibustion

catgut embedding and acupuncture on allergic symptoms and expression of interferon-γ(IFN-γ) and interleukin-4(IL-4) of nasal mucosa in rats with allergic rhinitis(AR) based on acupoint injection

so as to explore their synergistic effect and related mechanism in relieving AR. Methods SD rats(half male half female) were randomly divided into normal control

model

acupoint injection(AI)

AI+moxibustion

AI+catgut embedding and AI+acupuncture groups

with 8 rats in each group. The AR model was established by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin suspension(once every other day for 7 times)

and intranasal drop of 0.5% ovalbumin solution(once daily for 7 days). After successful modeling

rats of the AI group received injection of a mixture solution of equal proportion of 1% lidocaine

dexamethasone and transfer factor into “Yingxiang”(LI20) and “Yintang”(EX-HN3) once every 4 days

4 times altogether. Mild moxibustion or catgut embedment or manual acupuncture was applied to bilateral “Feishu”(BL13) and “Zusanli”(ST36). Both moxibustion(20 min every time) and acupuncture(with the needles retained for 30 min every time) were conducted once daily for 14 times

and catgut embedding was conducted once a week

twice altogether based on acupoint injection. The rats' nasal allergic reaction score(symptom score

1—3 points) was given according to the times of nose scratching and sneezing

and the running nose state in 30 min

and histopathological changes of nasal mucosa were observed by H.E. staining. The expression levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in the nasal mucosa were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot

separately. Results Compared with the normal group

the symptom score and the expression of IL-4 positive cells and protein in nasal mucosa were significantly increased(P<0.05)

while the expression of IFN-γ positive cells and protein were considerably decreased in the model group(P<0.05). In comparison with the model group

the symptom score and the expression of IL-4 positive cells and protein were obviously decreased(P<0.05)

while the expression of IFN-γ positive cells and protein were remarkably increased in the 4 treatment groups(P<0.05). The effects of AI+moxibustion

AI+catgut embedment

AI+acupuncture were signi-ficantly superior to those of simple AI in up-regulating the expression of IFN-γ positive cells and protein and in down-regulating the expression of IL-4 positive cells and protein(P<0.05). Both the symptom score and the expression of IL-4 were notably lower in the AI+moxibustion group than in the AI+catgut embedment and AI+acupuncture groups(P<0.05)

whereas the expression of IFN-γ was apparently higher in the AI+moxibustion group than in the other 3 treatment groups(P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the AI+catgut embedment and AI+acupuncture groups in the levels of symptom score

IFN-γ and IL-4 expressions(P>0.05). Conclusion Moxibustion or catgut embedment or acupuncture and AI have a synergistic effect in relieving symptoms of AR rats

which may be related to their function in regulating the expression levels of nasal IFN-γ and IL-4 proteins. The therapeutic effect of moxibustion is obviously superior to those of both acupuncture and catgut embedment.