ArticleAmerican journal of translational research2026
Electroacupuncture attenuates neuroinflammation by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway: an animal study.
Article in American journal of translational research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
objectivesTo determine the effect of electroacupuncture at GV20 (Baihui) and ST36 (Zusanli) in reducing the LPS-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive deficit. To determine whether it was associated with reduced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome-caspase-1-IL-1β/IL-18 signaling pathway in both male and female rats. PROCEDURES: Ninety-four adult Sprague-Dawley rats (47 male, 47 female) were randomly assigned to four groups: Control (saline), LPS (5 mg/kg intraperitoneal), LPS+EA (LPS plus electroacupuncture at GV20/ST36, 2 Hz, 1 mA, 20 min/day, 7 days), and LPS+Sham Electroacupuncture (LPS plus sham electroacupuncture at non-acupoints). Outcomes included NLRP3 and caspase-1 p20 (western blot), IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10 (ELISA), ROS, MDA, GSH (oxidative stress assays), Iba-1, and GFAP (immunohistochemistry), GSDMD-NT, NeuN, NF-κB p65, phospho-NF-κB p65, BDNF, CD68, iNOS, Arginase-1, and cognitive function (Morris water maze, Y-maze, novel object recognition).
resultsLPS increased all inflammatory and oxidative stress markers and impaired cognitive versus Controls (P < 0.001). Electroacupuncture was associated with significant reductions compared to LPS (P < 0.001): NLRP3 (48% reduction), caspase-1 p20 (54%), IL-1β (34%), IL-18 (33%), IL-6 (49%), TNF-α (49%), ROS (40%), MDA (47%), Iba-1 (46%), GFAP (47%), GSDMD-NT (54%), NF-κB p65 (46%), p-NF-κB p65 (68%), CD68 (57%), iNOS (68%), while increasing IL-10 (98%) and GSH (60%), NeuN (77%), BDNF (116%), Arginase-1 (500%), and improving cognition (21-133%). Sham EA had no effect on any outcome (P > 0.05 vs. LPS). No significant sex differences were detected. Mediation analysis revealed that 84.4% of electroacupuncture's cognitive benefit was mediated through the NLRP3-related pathways.
conclusionsElectroacupuncture at GV20 and ST36 was associated with reduced LPS-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment and these changes were statistically consistent with involvement of the NLRP3-caspase-1-IL-1β/IL-18 pathway, with no significant sex differences. These findings suggest electroacupuncture may be a promising strategy for NLRP3-associated neuroinflammatory disorders.
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