Study On The Effect And Mechanism Of Acupuncturing Kongzui Macthed With Yuji Acupoints To Relax Asthma Airway Smooth Muscle

Objective:By acupuncturing the Kongzui（LU 6）macthed with Yuji（LU 10）acupoints in asthmatic rats,the mechanism of relaxation of asthma airway smooth muscle by acupuncturing the Kongzui macthed with Yuji acupoints in asthmatic rats was investigated at different levels,including the latency period of inducing asthma,pulmonary function,airway morphology,protein expression,and gene level,providing a theoretical basis for the clinical application of acupuncture to prevent and treat asthma.Methods:40 SPF-rated male SD rats were randomly divided into NC group（normal group）,AS group（asthma model group）,AAK group（acupuncturing the Kongzui and Yuji acupoints treat asthma model group）andβ₂A group（albuterol treat asthma model group）.Except for the NC group,which was replaced by physiological saline,all other groups were intervened with OVA-induced asthma model.The intervention was performed by acupuncturing the Kongzui macthed with Yuji acupoints and salbutamol Nebulizer therapy.The incubation period of inducing asthma was recorded,the pulmonary function was examined,the morphology of airway smooth muscle was observed by Masson,and the m RNA and protein expression levels of ET-1 and MT-2 in lung tissue were detected by q PCR and Western blot,respectively.Results:（1）Comparison of incubation period of inducing asthma:compared with the NC group,the incubation periods of inducing asthma in the AS group,AAK group andβ₂A group were shortened;compared with the AS group,the incubation periods of inducing asthma in the AAK group andβ₂A group were prolonged（P<0.05）.（2）Changes in pulmonary function:compared with the NC group,airway resistance（RL）increased and pulmonary compliance（Cdyn）decreased in the AS group,AAK group andβ₂A group;compared with the AS group,the AAK andβ₂A group showed a general trend of lower RL and higher Cdyn.（3）Morphological changes of airways:compared with the NC group,the AS group,AAK group andβ₂A group showed moderate to severe abnormalities in lung tissue structure,and the lung fibrosis rate,smooth muscle area,bronchial wall area and bronchial basement membrane circumference were increased（P<0.05）;compared with the AS group,the percentage of lung fibrosis rate,bronchial wall area,smooth muscle area and bronchial basement membrane circumference were decreased in the AAK group andβ₂A group,but there was no statistical significance（P>0.05）.（4）Comparison of gene expressions:compared with the NC group,ET-1 m RNA expressions were significantly higher and MT-2 m RNA expressions were significantly lower in the AS group,AAK group andβ₂A group;compared with the AS group,ET-1 m RNA expressions were lower and MT-2 m RNA expressions were higher in the AAK group andβ₂A group（P<0.05）.（5）Comparison of protein level:compared with the NC group,the protein level of ET-1 increased and the protein level of MT-2 decreased in the AS group,AAK group andβ₂A group;compared with the AS group,the protein level of ET-1 decreased and the protein level of MT-2 increased in the AAK group andβ₂A group（P<0.05）.Conclusions:Acupuncturing the Kongzui macthed with Yuji acupoints can prolong the incubation period of inducing asthma,alleviate airway resistance,improve pulmonary compliance,and diastole airway smooth muscle in rats.The mechanism may be through the simultaneous regulation of ET-1and MT-2 targets,increasing the gene expression and protein level of MT-2,and decreasing the gene expression and protein level of ET-1,relaxing the airway smooth muscle spasm during the acute exacerbation of asthma,alleviating the airway hyperresponsiveness,and playing the role of antispasmodic effect and relieving athma.However,the role of the Kongzui macthed with Yuji acupoints in inhibiting the hypertrophy of airway smooth muscle,blocking abnormal changes in airway structure,and controlling the development process of asthmatic airway remodeling needs further study.