Moxibustion inhibits inflammation in monosodium urate crystal-induced gouty arthritis model rats through metabolomic regulation

Background Moxibustion is a form of therapy that to warm the acupoints located skin by using dried mugwort leaves. It is widely used to treat gouty arthritis (GA). However, the mechanism of moxibustion on improving GA has not been fully revealed. In this study, we explore the mechanism of moxibustion on GA via metabolomics combined with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory.Methods Three days before model induction, the rats of moxibustion groups were treated with moxibustion in the ST36 and SP6, and then, a GA rat model induced by monosodium urate (MSU) was established. Biological samples, including joint synovial tissue and serum samples, were collected and measured by histopathological staining, molecular biology assays and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics.Results We found that moxibustion could reduce the ankle edema induced by MSU crystals, decrease the expression of related proinflammatory genes, decrease the levels of serum IL-18 and IL-1 beta, and restore the metabolism of glycerol phospholipids, niacin and nicotinamide in GA model rats.Conclusion Moxibustion can regulate the metabolism of GA model rats widely to inhibit inflammation. Our research deepens our understanding of the complex mechanisms of moxibustion and promotes the application of moxibustion in the clinical practice.