Moxibustion promotes endometrial repair in rats with thin endometrium by inhibiting the NLRP3/pyroptosis axis via upregulating miR-223-3p

ZHOU Haiyi; HE Siyi; HAN Ruifang; GUAN Yongge; DONG Lijuan; SONG Yang

doi:10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2025.07.04

Abstract：Objective To explore the mechanism through which moxibustion promotes endometrial repair in rats with in thin endometrium(TE).Methods Female SD rats were randomized into control group,95%anhydrous ethanol-induced TE model group and moxibustion(at"Guan Yuan")group.High-throughput sequencing was used to identify the target genes of TE,and the targeting relationship between miR-223-3p and NLRP3 was verified using a dual luciferase assay.Histopathological of rat uterus was observed with HE staining,and expressions of miR-223-3p and NLRP3 were detected using RT-qPCR;serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 of the rats were detected using ELISA,and protein expressions of NLRP3,ASC,caspase-1 and GSDMD in the uterus were detected with Western blotting.The pregnancies of the rats after treatment were counted.Results Enrichment analysis of the differential genes suggested up-regulated inflammatory response in TE,and dual luciferase assay verified targeted inhibition of NLRP3 expression by miR-223-3p.The rat models of TE had significantly decreased endometrial thickness and reduced endometrial glands and blood vessels with enhanced mRNA expression of NLRP3,increased serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18,up-regulated protein expressions of NLRP3,ASC,caspase-1 and GSDMD,lowered pregnancy rates on both the affected and unaffected sides and the overall number of pregnancies.Treatment of the rat models with mo-xibustion obviously increased the endometrial thickness and the density of glands and blood vessels,up-regulated miR-223-3p expression,lowered serum IL-1β and IL-18 levels and the protein expressions of NLRP3,ASC,caspase-1 and GSDMD,and significantly increased the number of pregnancies.Conclusion Moxibustion at"Guan Yuan"acupoint up-regulates the expression of miR-223-3p,which results in targeted inhibition of NLRP3 to suppress pyroptosis and promote endometrial repair in rat models of TE.