Effects of Moxibustion Temperature on Blood Cholesterol Level in a Mice Model of Acute Hyperlipidemia : Role of TRPV1

Abstract EN

Objectives.

To compare the effects of moxibustion at two different temperatures (38°C and 46°C) on the blood cholesterol level in a mice model of acute hyperlipidemia, to detect the different expression levels of transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily 1 (TRPV1) in the dorsal root ganglions of the wild mice, and to explore the correlation between TRPV1 and moxibustion’s cholesterol-lowering effects.

Method.

Two different mice models were used: C57BL/6J wild type (WT) and TRPV1 gene knockout (TRPV1−/−).

Each model was randomly divided into control group and model group with three subgroups after acute hyperlipidemia was established: model control group, 38°C moxibustion group, and 46°C moxibustion group.

The mice in 38°C group and 46°C group were subject to moxibustion.

After the therapy, the cholesterol concentration in serum was measured, and the expression of TRPV1 was quantified.

Results.

In WT mice, moxibustion caused a decrease in blood cholesterol level and upregulation of TRPV1 at the mRNA level, which was significantly greater in the 46°C group.

In contrast, in TRPV1−/− mice, the differences of cholesterol-lowering effects of moxibustion were lost.

Conclusions.

Temperature is one of the important factors affecting the effects of moxibustion, and the cholesterol -lowering effect of moxibustion is related to the activation of TRPV1.