Electro-chemical therapy by cupric ion promotes vascular atrophy and occlusion in mixed hemorrhoids through caspase-3-mediated apoptosis
WANG Min,XIE Zhen-nian,AN Xiao-jing
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the effects of electro-chemical therapy by cupric ion (ECTCI), based on the theory of necrotizing hemorrhoid ligation in Traditional Chinese Medicine, on the vascular structure and apoptotic pathways in the hemorrhoidal tissues of patients with mixed hemorrhoids, and to elucidate its therapeutic mechanism. Methods Forty patients with mixed hemorrhoids were selected and randomly assigned to a control group and three ECTCI treatment groups with different treatment durations (280 s, 560 s, 840 s). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to observe morphological changes in blood vessels. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of CD31 and VEGF. RT-PCR and Western blot were employed to analyze the mRNA and protein expression levels of the apoptosis-related proteins Caspase-3 and Bcl-2. Results The ECTCI treatment groups exhibited dose-dependent destruction of vascular structures, manifested as reduced microvessel density, ruptured vessel walls, and fibrinoid necrosis. No significant difference in VEGF expression was observed among the groups. Apoptosis-related analyses revealed that Caspase-3 expression was up-regulated with increasing treatment duration, while Bcl-2 expression was down-regulated, suggesting activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Conclusion ECTCI promotes the atrophy and occlusion of pathological vessels by directly damaging the vascular endothelial structure in hemorrhoidal tissues and activating the Caspase-3-mediated apoptotic pathway, which represents a key mechanism in its treatment of mixed hemorrhoids.
