Electroacupuncture alleviates Parkinson's disease by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the therapeutic effects and potential mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in a Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse model. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to control, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), MPTP + sham EA, and MPTP + EA groups. PD was induced by MPTP. EA was applied at Baihui (GV20), Hegu (LI4), and Taichong (LR3). After 20 days of treatment, behavioral tests including the open field test, rotarod test, and Morris water maze were conducted. Dopaminergic neuron survival, apoptosis, and expression of inflammatory markers were assessed. RESULTS: MPTP-induced mice exhibited impaired motor and cognitive performance, increased brain apoptosis, reduced dopaminergic neurons, and elevated expression of α-synuclein, NLRP3, IL-1β, IL-18, caspase-1, and gasdermin D. These changes were not significantly altered by sham EA. In contrast, EA significantly improved motor and cognitive function, reduced apoptosis, preserved dopaminergic neurons, increased tyrosine hydroxylase expression, and suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation. CONCLUSION: EA mitigates PD symptoms and exerts neuroprotective effects by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation.