Research on the Mechanism of Moxibustion Intervention in Atherosclerosis Based on Next Generation Sequencing

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism through which moxibustion intervention therapy improves platelet activation in rats with atherosclerosis using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Atherosclerosis models were established in 15 Apolipoprotein E knockout mice (ApoE-/- mice) aged 8 weeks, while non-transgenic mice (C57BL/6) were used as the control group. The mice were divided into four groups: moxibustion group, clopidogrel group, model group, and blank control group. Following 12 weeks of intervention, platelet-rich plasma was prepared from venous blood collected from the mice’s eyeballs. RNA extraction and analysis were performed to assess gene expression patterns. In the moxibustion group, the expression of PPBP was downregulated, while PTPN7 expression was upregulated, indicating involvement in the MAPK classical pathway. The moxibustion group exhibited significantly higher PTPN7 mRNA expression compared to both the clopidogrel and model groups, while Robo4 mRNA expression was significantly reduced in both the moxibustion and clopidogrel groups. The PTPN7 gene locus, acting through the MAPK pathway, may serve as a potential target for enhancing atherosclerosis management by modulating platelet activation.