Effect of Wheat Grain Moxibustion on Immune Function in Immunosuppressed Rats via JAK2-STAT3 Pathway

Background Diseases of the immune system are increasingly significant in an aging society. These diseases, ranging from mild to severe, occur when the body is immunocompromised or immunosuppressed, impacting the quality of life and presenting a serious medical challenge for contemporary society. Research indicates that moxibustion may enhance the immune system. This study aims to examine the effects of wheat grain moxibustion at Guan Yuan and Foot San Li on the immune function of immunosuppressed rats. It also investigates its correlation with the JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathway by analyzing immune organs, cells, and reactive substances under varying moxibustion amounts. Methods An immunosuppression model was prepared using cyclophosphamide. Forty-five SD rats were divided into five groups: blank, model, and three maitake moxibustion groups (low, medium, high doses of 3, 6, and 9 zhuang respectively), with 9 rats in each group. Guanyuan (CV4) and Zusanli (ST36) acupoints were treated for 7 consecutive days using wheat grain moxibustion patches. Results The treated rats showed increased WBC in the LOW, MID, and HIGH groups compared to the CTX model group. The LOW group had a slight increase, while the MID and HIGH groups had a significant increase, with a small difference between them. HE staining results indicated an increase in spleen marginal zone size, lymphocytes around the small central artery, and a reduction in red marrow with slight pigmentation in all three treatment groups. Post-treatment also showed clearer thymic corticomedullary stroma and less lymphocyte necrosis, particularly in the HIGH group. Flow cytometry revealed a non-significant increase in CD4/CD8 ratio in the LOW group compared to CTX, but significant increases in MID and HIGH groups. WB results indicated higher Jak2 and STAT3 protein expression and phosphorylation levels in all groups, especially the HIGH group. PCR findings for Jak2 and STAT3 mRNA expression aligned with these observations. Conclusion In cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed rats, different amounts of moxibustion stimulated Guanyuan and Zusanli in rats, which could up-regulate the protein expression of IgG, IgM, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6, down-regulate the expression of IL-10, and elevate the content of CD4/CD8, and restore the function of spleen and thymus to improve the state of immune-suppression and restore the immunological function to a different extent.