To explore the mechanisms of moxibustion in treating obese mice through its regulatory effects on mitochondrial brown adipose tissue uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1), PR domain-containing protein 16 (Prdm16), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) in abdominal adipose tissue, and the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA)/cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway in the hypothalamus of obese mice.

C57 BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the control group, model group, moxibustion group, and sham control group, with 10 mice in each group. An obese mouse model was established by feeding a high-fat diet. Moxibustion was applied mildly at a distance of 3—5 cm from the “Zhongwan” (CV12) with a temperature maintained at (46±1)℃ in the moxibustion group. In the sham control group, moxibustion was applied at a distance of 8—10 cm from CV12 with a temperature maintained at (38±1)℃. Changes in body weight and food intake were observed before and after treatment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and hypothalamic cAMP. The mass of abdominal white adipose tissue (WAT) was assessed. Histopathological changes in adipose tissue were observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot were employed to detect the mRNA and protein expression of UCP1, Prdm16, and PGC-1α in abdominal adipose tissue, as well as the expression of PKA and CREB in the hypothalamus.

Compared with the control group, the model group showed increased body weight, food intake, serum TC and TG levels (P<0.01), as well as increased abdominal WAT mass (P<0.01), and significantly enlarged adipocyte volume in abdominal adipose tissue. Mice in the model group showed decreased mRNA and protein expression of UCP1, Prdm16, and PGC-1α in abdominal adipose tissue, as well as decreased mRNA and protein expression of PKA and CREB in the hypothalamus (P<0.01), along with decreased levels of hypothalamic cAMP (P<0.01). Compared with the model group and sham control group, the moxibustion group showed decreased body weight and food intake (P<0.01, P<0.05), decreased serum TC and TG levels, and abdominal WAT mass (P<0.01), along with reduced adipocyte diameter in abdominal adipose tissue. Moreover, compared with the model group and sham control group, the moxibustion group showed increased mRNA and protein expression of UCP1, Prdm16, and PGC-1α in abdominal adipose tissue, and the mRNA and protein expression of PKA and CREB in the hypothalamus (P<0.01), as well as increased levels of hypothalamic cAMP (P<0.01).

Moxibustion can enhance the mRNA and protein expression of UCP1, Prdm16, and PGC-1α in WAT of obese mice, improving obesity and lipid metabolism. Its mechanism may involve the regulation of the hypothalamic cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway.

To observe the efficacy of "Biaoben acupoint compatibility" moxibustion for abdominal obesity and its effect on blood lipid, lipid accumulation product (LAP) and cardiometabolic index (CMI).

A total of 150 patients with abdominal obesity were randomly divided into an observation group (75 cases, 5 cases dropped out) and a control group (75 cases, 6 cases dropped out). The control group received lifestyle guidance. The observation group received "Biaoben acupoint compatibility" moxibustion at Zhongwan (CV12), Guanyuan (CV4) and bilateral Tianshu (ST25), Zusanli (ST36) on the basis of the control group, 20 min each time, once every other day, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Before and after treatment, the waist circumference, hip circumference, weight, body mass index (BMI) were observed, the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured, and the LAP and CMI were calculated in the two groups.

After treatment, the waist circumference, weight and BMI were decreased compared with those before treatment in both groups (P＜0.05), the changes of the above indexes in the observation group were larger than those in the control group (P＜0.05). After treatment, the hip circumference, TC level, TG level, LAP and CMI in the observation group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P＜0.05), the HDL-C level was increased compared with that before treatment (P＜0.05);the changes of the TC level, TG level, LAP, CMI and HDL-C level in the observation group were larger than those in the control group (P＜0.05).

"Biaoben acupoint compatibility" moxibustion can reduce the degree of obesity in patients with abdominal obesity, and improve blood lipid and reduce lipid accumulation.

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on hypothalamic liver kinase B1 (LKB1)/AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway, sympathetic nerve activity and browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) in obese mice, so as to explore the possible central mechanisms of EA in improving obesity.

C57BL/6J male mice were divided into normal group (n=8) and high fat diet group (n=30) randomly, and fed by normal diet and high fat diet for 8 weeks, respectively. In the high fat diet group, mice with body weight over 20% heavier than that of the normal group were considered as obese mice. The obese mice were divided into model and EA groups (n=8 in each group). Mice in the EA group were treated with EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 1 mA, 3 mm needling depth) at "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Tianshu" (ST25) for 30 min, 5 times a week for 4 weeks. The mice's body weight and length were measured for calculating the Lee's index. The contents of serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and noradrenaline (NE) were detected by ELISA. The weight of abdominal white adipose tissue was weighed, and the morphological changes of abdominal adipose tissue were observed by HE staining. The mRNA and protein expression levels of LKB1 and AMPK in hypothalamus, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) and β3-adrenergic receptor (β3-AR) in abdominal white adipose tissue were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot, respectively.

Compared with the normal group, the body weight, Lee's index, serum contents of TC, TG and LDL-C, abdominal WAT mass, hypothalamus LKB1, AMPK mRNA and protein expression were increased (P<0.01), while serum HDL-C and NE contents, mRNA and protein expression of β3-AR, PGC-1α, UCP1 and PPAR-γ in adipose tissue were decreased (P<0.01) in the model group. The diameter of adipocytes in abdominal WAT was significantly increased, and the number of cells per unit area was decreased in the model group. Following EA intervention, the body weight, Lee's index, serum contents of TC, TG and LDL-C, abdominal WAT mass, hypothalamus LKB1, AMPK mRNA and protein expression were decreased (P<0.01), while the serum HDL-C and NE contents, mRNA and protein expression of β3-AR, PGC-1α, UCP1 and PPAR-γ were increased (P<0.01). The diameter of adipocytes in abdominal WAT was decreased and the number of cells per unit area was increased in the EA group.

EA can reduce the body weight and Lee's index in obese mice, regulate blood lipids, and reduce the weight of abdominal WAT, which may be closely related to its effect in regulating the hypothalamic LKB1/AMPK signaling pathway, activating the adipose tissue sympathetic nerve activity, and promoting the browning of WAT.