P2X7 receptor of rat dorsal root ganglia is involved in the effect of moxibustion on visceral hyperalgesia

Purinergic Signalling

Wei Xie³  Qingming Shi³  Guodong Li²  Xi Zhang³  Weijian Lin³  Shiyao Wen³  Ting Zou³  Shangdong Liang⁴  Lifang Zou³  Zhedong Zhang³  Miaomiao Song³  Mofeng Ying³  Shuangmei Liu³  An Huang¹  Lichao Peng³  Qicheng Zhu³  Qin Wu³  Bing Wu³  Qiuyu Xie³  Qiulan Lv³  Guilin Li³ 

[1] Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics$$;Singapore General Hospital$$;Nanchang University$$;Nanchang University$$Nanchang University$$

关键词: Colorectal distension;   

DOI  :  10.1007/s11302-014-9439-y

学科分类：分子生物学，细胞生物学和基因

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease often display visceral hypersensitivity. Visceral nociceptors after inflammatory stimulation generate afferent nerve impulses through dorsal root ganglia (DRG) transmitting to the central nervous system. ATP and its activated-purinergic 2X₇ (P2X₇) receptor play an important role in the transmission of nociceptive signal. Purinergic signaling is involved in the sensory transmission of visceral pain. Moxibustion is a therapy applying ignited mugwort directly or indirectly at acupuncture points or other specific parts of the body to treat diseases. Heat-sensitive acupoints are the corresponding points extremely sensitive to moxa heat in disease conditions. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the analgesic effect of moxibustion on a heat-sensitive acupoint “Dachangshu” and the expression levels of P2X₇ receptor in rat DRG after chronic inflammatory stimulation of colorectal distension. Heat-sensitive moxibustion at Dachangshu acupoint inhibited the nociceptive signal transmission by decreasing the upregulated expression levels of P2X₇ mRNA and protein in DRG induced by visceral pain, and reversed the abnormal expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, a marker of satellite glial cells) in DRG. Consequently, abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) score in a visceral pain model was reduced, and the pain threshold was elevated. Therefore, heat-sensitive moxibustion at Dachangshu acupoint can produce a therapeutic effect on IBS via inhibiting the nociceptive transmission mediated by upregulated P2X₇ receptor.

【 授权许可】

Unknown