Moxibustion treatment modulates the gut microbiota and immune function in a dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis rat model

Figure 10 The levels of IL-2, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, IL-23, IFN-γ, LPS, IgA, TGF-β, TNF-α, TNFR1 and TNFR2 in serum. HC: Healthy controls; UC: UC model group; UC-7: UC model with seven days of moxibustion; UC-W: UC model with mesalazine gavage; HC-7: Healthy controls with seven days of moxibustion. IL-2, IL-10 (P < 0.01) and TGF-β (P < 0.05) were lower and IL-12 (P < 0.05), IL-17, IL-23, IFN-γ, LPS, IgA, TNF-α, TNFR1 and TNFR2 (P < 0.01) were higher in the UC group compared with the HC group. The levels of IL-2 (P < 0.01), IL-10 (UC-7, P < 0.05, UC-W and HC-7, P < 0.01) and TGF-β (UC-7 and UC-W, P < 0.05, HC-7, P > 0.05) were higher in the treatment groups than the UC group. The levels of IL-17 (UC-7 and HC-7, P < 0.05, UC-W, P < 0.01), IL-23, IFN-γ, LPS, IgA, TNFR1, TNFR2 (P < 0.01), and TNF-α (P < 0.05) in serum were lower in the UC-7 and UC-W groups. However, there were no significant differences in the level of IL-12 between the UC group and the UC-7 group and between the UC group and the UC-W group (P > 0.05). ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs the HC group. ^cP < 0.05, ^dP < 0.01 vs the UC group.