本课题组前期工作从信号传导调控角度研究艾灸延缓衰老作用及其原理，证实艾灸肾俞穴通过对细胞衰老信号p19/p53/p21传导途径的干预发挥延缓机体衰老的作用，同时在后续实验中观察到温和灸肾俞穴能有效地使衰老大鼠肝脏原本升高的P16蛋白表达下降。国内外研究表明，抑癌基因p16位于细胞周期依赖性激酶抑制因子(CDKI )途径的重要位置，其过度表达可诱导衰老的发生，DNA甲基化是p16主要负转录调控机制之一，并具有年龄依赖的特点，即随增龄而降低。因此，本研究拟以艾灸作为延缓衰老的干预方式，以p16DNA修饰为靶点，对其中的调控机制和时序方案进行深入研究，并以中医传统的肾虚致衰与脾虚致衰理论为依据，拟初步证明艾灸可通过调节p16表达，实现在衰老进程中对重要器官的本体靶向保护作用；阐释艾灸干预p16DNA甲基化修饰的生物学效应；探讨艾灸延缓衰老的适宜时机和腧穴配伍。

Pilot study concluded that cellular senescence is the basis of aging body, and cellular senescence process achieves by means of signal transduction pathways. Tumor suppressor gene p16 is located in the important position of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI) pathway, for its overexpression can induce aging. DNA modification is one of the p16 negative transcriptional regulation mechanism, and it is age-dependent. Perspective of prior study: signal transduction pathways. Research topics and research approach: the mechanism of anti-senescence effects of moxibustion treatment on ShenShu point(BL 23)Immunohistochemistry and further supporting biotechnology: Westernblot, HPLC, fluorescence, quantitative PCR, modification-specific PCR. Research objectives: to find out the actual relation between p16DNA modification and anti-senescence process of warm moxibustion treatment, and to further discuss the optimum time of moxibustion intervention. Research prospection: To provide evidence for anti-senescene effect of warm moxibustion on Shenshu(BL23) point.And to observe the differentiation targeting protecting and regulative effect of warm moxibustion on the main organs of rats in regard to the expression level of p16 modification. To examine the biological effects of moxibustion intervention on the epigenetic modification. The results will provide experimental evidence and theoretical basis to the study on anti-aging mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion.