[Study on the mechanism of moxibustion in improving autophagy of intestinal epithelial cells in rats with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome based on PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway].

Researchers in China studied how moxibustion (a traditional Chinese medicine technique that uses burning herbs to warm acupuncture points) might help people with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS-D. IBS-D causes chronic abdominal pain, cramping, and frequent diarrhea that significantly impacts quality of life. In this animal study, rats with IBS-D received moxibustion treatment on acupuncture points Tianshu (ST25) and Shangjuxu (ST37) for 20 minutes daily over seven days. The researchers found that moxibustion reduced visceral pain sensitivity and protected the intestinal lining by affecting a specific cellular pathway called PI3K/AKT/mTOR. This pathway helps regulate autophagy, a process where cells clean up damaged parts. In IBS-D, excessive autophagy damages the intestinal barrier, allowing inflammation and increasing pain sensitivity. The moxibustion treatment normalized this process, reducing the number of autophagosomes (structures that indicate excessive autophagy), decreasing inflammatory cell infiltration, and strengthening tight junction proteins that keep the intestinal barrier intact. When researchers blocked the PI3K pathway with an inhibitor drug, moxibustion's beneficial effects disappeared, confirming this was the mechanism at work. While this is an animal study and human trials are needed, the findings suggest moxibustion may help IBS-D patients by protecting the gut lining and reducing pain through measurable biological mechanisms rather than placebo effects alone. The study provides scientific evidence for a treatment approach used in traditional Chinese medicine for digestive disorders. If you're considering moxibustion for IBS-D, seek treatment from a licensed acupuncturist with appropriate training and credentials.

This experimental study investigated moxibustion's mechanism for treating IBS-D in 40 male SD rats divided into control, model, moxibustion, and moxibustion plus PI3K inhibitor groups (n=10 each). The IBS-D model was established via acetic acid enema and chronic restraint stress. Moxibustion was applied bilaterally to ST25 and ST37 for 20 minutes daily for seven days. Results demonstrated that moxibustion significantly increased abdominal withdrawal reflex threshold (P<0.05), indicating reduced visceral hypersensitivity. Western blot analysis revealed moxibustion upregulated p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT/AKT, and p-mTOR/mTOR ratios while decreasing the LC3B-II/I ratio, indicating reduced autophagy. Tight junction proteins Occludin and ZO-1 increased while Claudin-2 decreased (P<0.01), suggesting improved intestinal barrier integrity. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed reduced autophagosome formation. Administration of PI3K inhibitor LY294002 abolished these effects, confirming pathway specificity. Histological analysis showed decreased inflammatory infiltration and improved mucosal architecture. Clinical relevance: Moxibustion at ST25 and ST37 may ameliorate IBS-D symptoms by activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, normalizing intestinal epithelial autophagy, and protecting mucosal barrier function.