Grain-sized moxibustion at Zusanli (ST36) promotes hepatic autophagy in rats with hyperlipidemia by regulating the ULK1 and TFEB expression through the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE: Grain-sized moxibustion is an effective treatment for hyperlipidemia, but how it regulates dyslipidemia and liver lipid deposits still needs to be fully understood. This study explored the molecular biological mechanism of grain-sized moxibustion to regulate hepatic autophagy in hyperlipidemic rats by affecting ULK1 and TFEB through the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed a high-fat diet for eight weeks to induce hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemic rats were divided into the HFD group, HFD + Statin group, HFD + CC + Moxi group, and grain-sized moxibustion intervention group (HFD + Moxi group). The control (Blank) group consisted of normal rats without any intervention. Grain-sized moxibustion and drug interventions were initiated eight weeks after high-fat diet induction and continued for ten weeks. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), as well as hepatic triglyceride (TG), were measured after treatment. Hepatic steatosis and the expression of LC3I, LC3II, p62, p-AMPK, AMPK, p-mTOR, mTOR, ULK1, p-ULK1, and TFEB in the liver were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with the HFD group, grain-sized moxibustion improved hyperlipidemia and hepatocyte steatosis, increased the LC3, p-AMPK, p-ULK1, and nuclear TFEB expression in the liver, but decreased the p62 and p-mTOR expression. CONCLUSION: Grain-sized moxibustion at ST36 acupoints could regulate the blood lipid level of SD rats with hyperlipidemia, increase the expression level of ULK1 and TFEB by activating the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway in liver tissues, and initiate the transcription of autophagy genes such as LC3.